MINE DISASTERS (RELIEF FUNDS).

HC Deb 06 December 1932 vol 272 cc1402-3

1. Mr. PARKINSON

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any steps have been taken by the Government to secure the consent of the trustees of the various mine disaster funds for all the balances to be put together into one national fund for the purposes of relief in mine disasters; what is the result of his inquiries; and, if not favourable, is the Government prepared to legislate in order to accomplish this object.

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)

No, Sir. I am not taking steps to deal with the question of balances. I am by no means certain that a large national fund would be better, especially from the point of view of the beneficiaries. My interest has been concentrated on the question of surpluses and the hon. Member will see from the reply I gave on the 16th November to the hon. Member for North Salford (Mr. J. P. Morris) that there is no case for considering legislation in respect of these.

Mr. PARKINSON

Would it not be better to gather the whole of the surpluses into one common fund? I do not know how many surpluses there are, but there are quite a number of them. What steps can be taken to see that they are brought together to be used in one common fund?

Mr. BROWN

My hon. Friend will find the facts set forth in an answer which was given on 16th November, of which I will send him a copy. He will realise that if there were any general legislation it could not be confined to relief funds for colliery disasters. There are arguments both for and against central funds as against local funds.

Mr. LUNN

Will the hon. Gentleman have the return as to these colliery disasters funds which was prepared in 1925 brought up to date, so that we may know what money there is to-day in these funds?

Mr. BROWN

In answering that question on 16th November, I pointed out that that return was obtained only by the courtesy of those concerned, and that we made inquiries about five or six relief funds since and that the position showed little change; and therefore I do not think it is necessary to take the steps suggested.