§ 27. Mr. MITCHESONasked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the effect on the coal industry of the restrictions placed by the Coal Mines Act on the production and sale of coal, he will take steps to remove these restrictions at an early date?
§ Mr. ISAAC FOOTI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies that I gave on the 1st March to the hon. Member for the Sedgefield Division of Durham (Mr. Jennings) and the hon. and gallant Member for Hexham (Colonel Brown). Since that date I have received the reply of the Miners' Federation. I am still awaiting replies from two organisations, one of which is the Mining Association.
§ Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEIn considering this matter, will the Secretary for Mines take into consideration the special case of Northumberland and Durham, which are hardly hit by this Act?
§ Mr. FOOTRepresentations have been made already, and I have had the honour of visiting the North East Coast and consulting with those on the spot.