§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISON(by Private Notice)asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the remarks made on the 19th instant by the County Court Judge of the Mansfield County Court, Nottinghamshire, as to the insufficient protection afforded by the Government to pit owners in the neighbourhood and to the fact that the owners were being compelled to submit lists of safety men whom they proposed to employ in their pits to the local trade union officials, who had threatened to destroy any pit in which non-union men were employed; and what action the Government propose to take to secure individual liberty and protect the coal mining industry from the menaces indicated by the learned County Court Judge?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have seen certain remarks attributed to the County Court Judge in the Press. I am not aware that colliery owners are compelled to submit the names of the safety men to the trade union officials, and I am unable to ascertain that that is the case. My information is that the police of the district are providing adequate protection, and I have no doubt that they will continue to meet all reasonable demands that may be made upon them.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not a fact that the man in the case referred to who had lost his hand in the course of his 554 employment and was being employed in this pit, was driven from his employment by the orders of the trade union officials because he did not belong to their union at the commencement of the stoppage?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI must, confess that I have not full information as to this particular case. My hon. Friend only asked for information in reference to the general question of protection, and on that general question I am satisfied that the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire was carrying out his duties.
§ Mr. TAYLORHas the right hon. Gentleman taken any step to deal with people like Judges who make statements of this kind, or does he propose to take any steps?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have no authority. The Lord Chancellor is the responsible authority for dealing with the remarks made by Judges.
§ Mr. TAYLORWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations on this subject to the Lord Chancellor?
§ Mr. GARDNERWill the Home Secretary send a copy of his answer given this afternoon to the learned Judge?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think he will probably see it.
Sir F. HALLIn regard to the answer which the right hon. Gentleman has given in reply to the hon. Member for south Kensington (Sir W. Davison), will the Home Secretary look into the whole question, which I put to the Minister of Labour in which the case of this particular man who lost his hand is dealt with?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI should be only too glad to look into any question, but I should hesitate to interfere in regard to any matter which has been referred to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.
§ Mr. THURTLEOn a point of Order. May I be allowed to say that I have always understood that the comments of Judges and Magistrates were not proper subjects for questions in this House. Are we now to understand from the precedent which is being established this afternoon that such matters are proper subjects for questions?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not the case of criticising a Judge, it is a case where a question is put to the Minister as to whether or not he proposes to take action, and that is quite a different matter.
§ Mr. W. THORNEAre you aware, Mr. Speaker, that if a question is put down and handed to the Clerk of the House and it is ruled out of order, it is an easy way of getting at the Minister by means of a private notice question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI will deal with that question when it arises.