§ 40. Mr. CLARKEasked the Secretary for Mines if he proposes to include the Scottish shale industry in the Bill shortly to be introduced amending the present Coal Mines Seven Hours Act; and, if not, will he say what are his intentions with regard to their being included at a future date?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Shinwell)I presume my hon. Friend refers to the Bill recently introduced by me to explain (not to amend) one Subsection of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908. Both apply to shale mines as well as to coal mines. But the Bill is merely explanatory, and no alteration of the length of the normal working day, as fixed for shale mines by the Act of 1908 and for coal mines by the amending Act of 1919, could possibly be included within its scope.