§ 16. Major BEAUMONT THOMASasked the Secretary for Mines if he will take immediate steps to ascertain from consumers of coal their opinion as to the advisability of continuing Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Isaac Foot)I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Act itself provides machinery by which any grievance may be ventilated and if well-grounded rectified. Representations from coal consumers as to the advisability of continuing Part I of the Act have already been made to me and will be taken into full consideration, equally with other representations before any decision is made. My hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that the Government will have regard to the interests of the general consumer of coal.
§ Major THOMASIs the Secretary for Mines not aware that there is very great dissatisfaction with the operation of 933 Part I of the Coal Mines Act, and that that dissatisfaction has existed for several months?
§ Mr. FOOTI am aware of many representations both in favour of the Act and against it, and all those representations will be taken into consideration.
§ Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEIs the hon. Member not convinced that Part I of the Act operates very detrimentally in the counties of Northumberland and Durham, and is he not convinced that this Act—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is giving information, not seeking it.
§ 19. Mr. JENNINGSasked the Secretary for Mines, in view of the extent of the unemployment in the county of Durham coalfields, whether he will take steps to have the industry freed from Government control through the operation of the Coal Mines Act, 1930?
§ Mr. FOOTAs I have already informed the House, consideration of the future of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, must be deferred until the organisations representing the industry have replied to the invitation to express their views on its operation.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs the Secretary for Mines aware that before the operation of this Act the losses in the Durham coal industry were very large, whereas at the present moment the position is altogether different? In view of this fact, will the hon. Gentleman take steps to improve the conditions and the wages of the men concerned?
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIn view of the disastrous effect generally of this Act, will the hon. Member take an early opportunity of repealing it?
§ Mr. SPEAKERAll these opposite views are very confusing.
21. Colonel BROWNasked the Secretary for Mines if replies have yet been received to his inquiry in connection with Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930?
§ Mr. FOOTI am still awaiting replies from three of the organisations—including the Mining Association and the Miners' Federation—whose views on the operation of Part I of the Act were invited.
Colonel BROWNHas the hon. Gentleman taken any steps to secure minority opinions, as well as the opinions of the large majority?
§ Mr. FOOTWe are taking steps to secure all the representations, and some minority representations have already been made to us.