HC Deb 21 June 1926 vol 197 cc18-9
40. Sir WILFRID SUGDEN

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take in respect to the iron rollers, engineers and blast furnace workers in Durham who have been compelled to cease work owing to the coal shortage?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton

In so far as the stoppage is due to coal shortage and not to voluntary withdrawal of labour or a trade dispute, unemployment benefit would normally be payable.

Sir W. SUGDEN

Will the hon. Gentleman ascertain if it is not possible to offer the same generous terms as have been offered to the miners, so that men of the type of David Holmes, men who have led in the engineering movement as trade union leaders, may have an opportunity of earning their bread?

46. Sir W. SUGDEN

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the fact that engineers, shipworkers and blast furnace men are being put into unemployment by reason of the shortage of coal, and in view of assistance given to the coal workers from abroad, he will consider the possibility of taking reparation payments in coal for the purpose of getting the shipbuilding, engineering and iron rolling industries in operation again?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)

This country is receiving its full share of reparation in sterling through the Reparation Recovery Act procedure. This is, I consider, a much more expeditious method than to negotiate reparation payments in kind.

Sir W. SUGDEN

Is not my suggestion more facile and acceptable? Considering that the shipbuilding industry is a key industry, and that we have only three weeks' supply of food in this country, would not the coal be worth more than the money at the present time?

The PRIME MINISTER

Perhaps my hon. Friend does not realise that any change in the form of reparation would be a matter of negotiations with the German Government, that that in itself would take some time, and that it would he late in the autumn before any of these receipts could arrive in England.