§ 27. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary for Mines what amalgamations 1706 have taken place in the Durham coalfields since the Samuel Report was issued?
§ Commodore KINGI have not heard of any colliery amalgamations in Durham since the spring of 1926.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONAs apparently nobody has taken any notice of the amalgamation recommendation, is the Minister taking any interest in the matter, as he knows how many unemployed there are in the mining industry?
§ Commodore KINGI am taking the interest to find out, and I have been notified, as I say, of no amalgamations.
§ Mr. BATEYThen are we to understand that there is no attempt at amalgamations in the county of Durham?
§ Commodore KINGNo. The hon. Member must understand only what I have just stated, namely, that I have no knowledge of any amalgamation having taken place.
§ Mr. BATEYI understood the Minister to say that he had no knowledge of any since the spring of 1926. Are we to understand that at the present time there are no attempts at amalgamation taking place in Durham?
§ Commodore KINGI did not say attempts. If the hon. Member had listened to my answer, he would know that I said that I had not heard of any colliery amalgamations.
§ Mr. LAWSONHas the hon. and gallant Gentleman's Department taken any steps to see that the spirit of the Coal Mines Act, 1926, is carried out, so that amalgamations for efficiency purposes de take place?
§ Commodore KINGThe Department has to report to this House after the 1st August what amalgamations have taken place. In the meantime, it is for the colliery companies themselves to amalgamate.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot follow this question further.