§ 59. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his reply to the executive committee of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, it is his intention to give an opportunity for a discussion at an early date of the grave situation in which the miners are placed arising from the present conditions in the coal industry?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt would be impossible, I think, to find time for such a discussion.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the miners, by agreement, during the past two years have submitted to considerable reductions, and that it has had no effect upon the industry worth anything at all, but many of them are starving; and are we to understand that they are only going to be taken seriously when they take such action as is common to many people in desperate circumstances?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am quite aware of all the facts, but it is one thing 1761 to say, as I would be quite ready to say, that, in view of the work the miners are doing, their wages are inadequate, and it is another thing to find a method of increasing them.
§ Mr. WESTWOODAre we to understand from the Prime Minister that the Government can give time to save Prince Andrew from Greece, but cannot give rime to save the starving miners?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot debate the matter; there are too many questions down.