51. Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the reception of the Government's offer of a contribution from the taxpayer of £10,000,000 by those engaged in the coal industry and of the unsatisfactory conditions under which the ballot on the question of its acceptance has been conducted, he will reconsider the granting of this large sum at the present moment?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Lloyd George)I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the letter which I addressed to the Secretary of the Miners' Federation on Saturday last, and which has been published in the Press.
§ Mr. R. McLAREN(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister if he has received intimation from the Miners' Federation that the miners' strike has to be continued; if so, will he give an assurance to the owners of collieries that protection will be afforded, where necessary, to men willing to go to work; and whether such men will have a proportion of the £10,000,000 added to their wages, provided they start work during this week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As to the last part of the question, it is plain that it would be impossible to allocate the grant of assistance which the Government offered, unless upon a plan operating throughout the whole coalfield, and that the acceptance of the Miners' Federation was accordingly always necessary as a condition precedent to the payment and distribution of that sum. That acceptance was not forthcoming within the time. As to this matter, I must refer my hon. Friend to the letter which I sent to the Miners' Federation on Saturday, a copy of which has already appeared in the Press.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhat will the Government do now?
Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. HOPEWill the right hon. Gentleman not consider granting a portion of the £10,000,000 in a flat rate distributed to those men who desire to return to work?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that would not meet the case, because there are certain districts where the £10,000,000 would not be needed at all, and therefore the flat rate is not applicable, because there are certain districts where the wage demanded could be paid at present without any assistance.