§ 33. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour whether any Indus trial Council exists in the lead and zincmining industry; if not, whether he will 2193 avail himself of Part II. of the Industrial Courts Act to institute an inquiry into the recent rises of lead from £37 per ton in November to over £50 per ton (English pig) to-day, and the relation this advanced price bears to the wages of lead miners; and whether, as spelter has advanced in a similar period from about £46 per ton to an average of about £60 per ton, he will extend the inquiry into the remuneration of blend miners, and, if possible, form an Industrial Council for these two industries?
§ Sir R. HORNENo Joint Industrial Council exists for either of the industries, though there is an Interim Industrial Reconstruction Committee for the Non-ferrous Mines Industry, which is primarily connected with lead and zinc mining.
As I have previously ventured to point out to the hon. Member, an inquiry into the economic position of non-ferrous mining in this country is already being conducted, and a concurrent inquiry on this subject is accordingly unnecessary and inadvisable.