§ 34. Mr. POTTSasked the Prime Minister whether the Government proposes introducing a Minimum Wage Amendment Bill applicable to the mining industry; and, if so, can he state approximately the date of such introduction?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have every hope that a settlement of the present dispute in 26 the coal mining industry will be reached without further intervention on the part of the Government.
§ Mr. POTTSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the agreement, if accepted on the lines suggested, will not give the men any better wage, and, having regard to the factors of the case, are not the Government prepared to introduce a Minimum Wage Bill?
§ Mr. CLYNESI am not assuming that any settlement that may be reached in respect of the pending wage claim will permanently settle questions in the coal mining industry.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the minimum wage question is a different question altogether from that which is being negotiated now?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt is for that reason that the terms of my answer have been so framed.
§ Major COLFOXHave the Government given any definite promise to any of those concerned in this matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESNo promise except that which has already been made public.
§ Mr. POTTSIs it not a fact that, in reply to a question of my own, the Prime Minister gave an undertaking to introduce a Minimum Wage Bill?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt is a fact, and my reply refers to the relation of that promise to the pending wage settlement.
§ Mr. BECKERIs not this another cast, of a broken pledge?
§ Mr. HARDIEWould the Government, when dealing with this question, take into consideration the 10½ million tons of wasted coal which, if sent abroad, would meet the demand of the miners for a maximum wage?