HC Deb 31 July 1925 vol 187 cc931-3
Mr. CLYNES

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he can now make any announcement on the coal situation?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)

A provisional agreement has been reached with the mineowners, subject to district confirmation the notices being suspended for a fortnight. The Miners' Executive are sending out the following telegram: Notices suspended—continue work. If there is any local hitch, owing to the lateness of the hour at which settlement was arrived at, I trust that all parties will co-operate to remove it.

Mr. CLYNES

May I be allowed to say, Mr. Speaker, that I think that the House will have received that statement with a sense of very great relief. Of course, it is not a statement on which at present any more can be said.

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I should like to associate myself with the words used by my right hon. Friend the Member for Platting (Mr. Clynes) as to the relief that is felt by the whole community that this dark cloud has not for the moment broken upon our industry. I should like to ask the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to make any further statement with regard to the conditions which have been proposed, at any rate either now or before the House separates, so that we may have an opportunity of discussing it, if possible, and knowing if there are any public commitments?

The PRIME MINISTER

The negotiations have only concluded within the last five minutes. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will have certain information which he will be able to send out to the Press to-night. I will see that as full a White Paper as can be got out shall be prepared at once. It is open through the usual channels to fix a day next week when the matter can be fully discussed—probably it will be Thursday—for the convenience of winding up the business.

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

May I express the hope that, whether the discussion is Wednesday or Thursday, it will be taken at an early hour?

The PRIME MINISTER

Certainly. As far as I can see at present, we can give a day, if necessary.