§ 3. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the Isle of Wight organised labour, involving over 5,000 workers, after exhausting every other means of ventilating the grievance, has stopped work as a protest against the price of coal; whether he knows that from 63s. to 66s. per ton is paid for the same class of coal sold on the mainland at 38s. to 42s.; whether he can explain the reason for such a difference in price; and whether he proposes taking any action?
§ 6 Captain DOUGLAS HALLasked (1) the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to ensure that steamboat communication is not stopped or seriously dislocated between the mainland and the Isle of Wight 828 by the strike of some 6,000 men at Cowes owing to the inability of the Coal Controller and the Shipping Controller to take adequate steps to ensure that the retail price of coal in the island, amounting to over £3 a ton, is at once taken in hand; (2) the Minister of Munitions what steps he is taking to keep up the production of aeroplanes and other munitions of war at Cowes. in view of the strike of some 6,000 men, mostly Admiralty and munition workers, owing to the failure of the Shipping Controller to provide shipping facilities to alleviate the hardship due to the present price of coal in the Isle of Wight; (3) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller what steps his Department propose to take to give cheaper and better facilities for the transport of coal to the Isle of Wight in view of the fact that some 6,000 men, mostly Admiralty and munition workers,. are now on strike owing to the alleged procrastination of his Department to take steps in this matter; (4) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he is aware of the absence of facilities for increasing the transport of rail-borne coal to the Isle of Wight from the ports of Lymington, Redbridge, Totton, Southampton, and Stokes Bay; and if he will take steps to augment the same, in view of the strike of some 6,000 men, mostly Admiralty and munition workers, at Cowes causing danger to the country owing to loss of production?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Wardle)The matter to which my hon. Friends refer has been under discussion with the Coal Controller and the Shipping Controller, and I am glad to be able to say that arrangements are being made to avoid the cost of the long sea transit and thereby to reduce the cost of coal at Cowes by about 10s. per ton.
§ 82. Captain D. HALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to ensure that the production of vessels of war and other urgent requirements of the Admiralty are not hampered and stopped at. Cowes and our fighting efficiency lessened owing to the strike of 6,000 men at this port due to the failure of the Shipping Controller and the Coal Controller to provide facilities to alleviate the hardship due to the present retail price of coal in the Isle of Wight?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I understand that measures are being taken by the Coal Controller and the Ministry of Shipping which will settle this matter.
§ 54. Captain DOUGLAS HALLasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to die strike by some 6,000 men, mostly Admiralty and munition workers, at Cowes and the consequent danger of loss of vital production of war material owing to the failure of the Shipping Controller and the Coal Controller to alleviate the hardship due to the present prohibitive retail price of coal in the Isle of Wight; and if the War Cabinet will instruct these Departments to at once take further steps in the matter, in view of the fact that the Departments concerned have been dallying with the question for a year or more?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)In view of the fact that the hon. and gallant Member has put similar questions to the various Departments concerned, I do not think that it is necessary for me to supplement their answers.
§ Captain HALLWill the Minister concerned answer any questions?
§ 67. Captain DOUGLAS HALLasked the approximate cost to the nation per day caused by the strike of some 6,000 men at Cowes, mostly Admiralty and munition workers, due to the failure of the Shipping Controller and Coal Controller to alleviate the hardship due to the present price of coal in the Isle of Wight; and if he will give facilities for the discussion of the matter in the House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Captain HALLIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the replies on this matter, I beg to give votive that I shall raise it on the Adjournment.