MINERS. (Hansard, 24 March 1926)

§ 18. Mr. MARDY JONES
asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the practice of the Employment Exchange of Pontypridd to call upon skilled coalminers who are unemployed to accept casual work on occasional days to carry advertisers' boards through the streets of Pontypridd, and to stop their unemployment benefit if they refuse this particular work; and, in view of the fact that this enforcement is causing resentment amongst the mining population of Pontypridd, will he undertake to put a stop to this practice?

§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND
Certain colliery labourers and others fit for light employment only, were offered casual work of this nature on one occasion re-

§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland)
As the information involves a considerable number of figures, I will, with the permission of my Noble Friend, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Mr. JONES
Is the Minister aware that this action of the officials in calling for skilled miners who are out of work to carry advertisement boards through the streets of Pontypridd has aroused considerable resentment; that the sons of unemployed miners coming home from work saw their fathers carrying these boards in the streets; and that the womenfolk of Pontypridd have resented this very much and have challenged the action of the Ministry in this matter?

§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND
All that I can say is that the Exchanges, quite rightly, offer alternative employment to men who are out of work, but in this case the question as to whether or not that alternative employment was suitable and according to the law was put up to the Chief Insurance Officer, who decided in favour of the men.

§ Mr. JONES
But cannot I have the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman as to whether he approves of this kind of action by his local officials? Does he not appreciate the fact that skilled miners 1193 resent being treated like sandwich men in this way? In view of the unsatisfactory reply of the Minister, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question at the earliest opportunity on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

§ 22. Mr. T. WILLIAMS
asked the Minister of Labour how many miners were out of work and receiving unemployment pay for the last week when figures are available; and how many of these cases were men who previously had been partially incapacitated whilst following their employment?

§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND
On 22nd February, 1926, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of persons classified as belonging to the coal-mining industry recorded as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain was 118,736. The number of such persons with claims to benefit current at that date was 113,315, but I am unable to say how many of these were then actually in receipt of benefit, nor can I state how many had previously been partially incapacitated whilst following their employment.

§ Mr. WILLIAMS
Since the matter referred to in the latter part of the question is of peculiar importance to us, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to secure the information desired?

§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND
I will certainly inquire to see whether the statistics are collected in a form which makes it possible to give the information. That is always my trouble in either asserting to or dissenting from getting information, as to how far it is possible to get it. If the statistics allow it, I will gladly get it.

§ Mr. SPENCER
Ts the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a tendency to get rid of men suffering from miners' nystagmus in particular, and to throw them on to the Unemployment Fund, and then, when it is found impossible for these men to get further work, they are thrown on to the guardians, and cannot he do something, in consultation with the Home Secretary, to see to it that at least in regard to nystagmus men fair treatment is given by which they will get compensation?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
That does not arise eat of this question.