HC Deb 10 May 1932 vol 265 cc1698-700
10. Mr. MARTIN

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the figures for each coalfield showing how much has been paid each month of 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932 to date to make up the monthly ascertainment wage to the subsistence wage?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Isaac Foot)

As the reply involves a very long statistical statement, I will send such information as is available to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Mr. MARTIN

Will the hon. Gentleman give us now the figures for the county of Durham?

Mr. FOOT

I have here, in response to the hon. Member's question, eight pages closely packed with statistics, and there might be some little difficulty in taking out those figures.

30. Mr. MARTIN

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the result has been of his recent representations to the coalowners' and miners' representatives to come to a speedy settlement of the question of hours and wages?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Mr. MARTIN

In view of the great anxiety in the coal districts of the country, cannot the right hon. Gentleman make some definite suggestion as to when definite action will be taken upon this question?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

As my hon. Friend knows, there have been conversations carried on between the coalowners and the miners' representatives for some little time past, and as soon as I can make a statement I shall be very glad to do so.

Mr. LAWSON

As the owners and men have only met once, are the Government using their influence with the coalowners to try to get a national meeting in order to obtain a settlement?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I am not sure whether they have only met once. I am afraid that that does not agree with my information, but they certainly have been conversing on the subject. If they do not reach any agreement, of course Government action will have to be taken.

Mr. LAWSON

Is it not a fact that there is some hitch about meeting, and will the Government use their influence with the coalowners in order to get the coalowners to meet the men's representatives and obtain a settlement?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

As far as I know, there is no hitch about meeting. Both sides have met and met quite freely.

Mr. LAWSON

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole difficulty is that the men's representatives cannot meet the coalowners, and will the Government use their influence to that end?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

My hon. Friend must be mistaken. The men's representatives have met the coalowners.

Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSON

Can my right hon. Friend say if the conversations are to continue?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I hope that they will reach a fruitful result, but I cannot offer any prophecy at the present moment.