§ Mr. HOGGECan the Leader of the House give us the latest information with regard to the coal settlement?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn Yorkshire there is practically no change. There has not been a resumption of work. No more pits are likely to be flooded within the next twenty-four hours, but five are in danger of flooding within the next few days if action is not taken. As regards other districts, I am glad to say in Lancashire and Cheshire miners are back to work through out the coalfield this morning. In Not tinghamshire the same is true with the exception of some pits in the Worksop area, which are under the Yorkshire Union. In Derbyshire the Miners' Council on Saturday accepted the Government agreement, and I am informed that work has with a few exceptions, been resumed. In the other coalfields the situation is normal except in Staffordshire, where the Cannock Chase miners are still out, owing to the action of the surfacemen.
§ Mr. HOGGEHas the right hon. Gentle men seen the rumour in the papers about the difficulty of the coal-owners and the miners' representatives getting into touch and is there any truth in that?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI hope not. There will be nothing to prevent a meeting between the miners and the men to carry out the agreement made by the Government on Friday.
§ Captain O'GRADYWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the report in the Press this morning that my hon. Friend (Mr. Hogge) indicates that this is a roundabout process? Someone has to take the step, either the Government or the employers or the miners' as sociation in Yorkshire. Having regard to these circumstances, will the Government themselves endeavour to bring about negotiations between the mine-owners and the Yorkshire miners?
§ MR. BONAR LAWCertainly. We should not allow any technical questions to interefere with trying to get back to work, but it must be obvious to the hon. and gallant Gentleman that having made an agreement with the Miners' Federation, we thought we had settled the dispute.
§ Captain O'GRADYWill the right hon. Gentleman have regard to the fact that the miners in Yorkshire declare that the employers have broken off negotiations? The employers themselves, I think, disagree with that. Having regard to these circumstances, does not the right hon. Gentleman think some steps ought to be taken to bring the two bodies together to effect a settlement and a resumption of work?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWBefore the hon. and gallant Gentleman asked the question I had myself discussed this with my right hon. Friend, and we shall certainly do what we can not to allow the stoppage to continue for want of the people getting into touch.
§ Lord R. CECILWill my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of making a clear and impartial statement exactly what is the quarrel between the men and the mine-owners in Yorkshire?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is very complicated. I do not think it is a dispute which could be stated clearly in a few sentences, but I think now everyone understands it.