§ 47. Brigadier - General COCKERILLasked the Prime Minister whether the Coal Commission is inquiring or is about to inquire into the question of nationalising the mines; and, if so, whether he will add to the Commission not less than six members representative of the interests of the private consumers and of the distributors of coal, who are not at present directly represented?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe Coal Commission is not at present sitting. Its future activities will depend upon the result of the Miners' ballot which is now being taken. Until the result is known nothing can be decided.
§ Brigadier-General COCKERILLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that six out of twelve members of the Commission have already reported in favour of nationalisation despite the fact that Mr. Justice Sankey stated that the evidence before the Commission was inadequate in order to enable them to decide such a momentous question, and, having regard to that fact, does he think that the interests of these persons should go wholly unrepresented?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am aware of what the hon. Member has stated, but there is the fact that the question has not been judged and there is no reason why fresh evidence should not be taken and another decision perhaps arrived at.