§ 84. Mr. BATEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now make a statement as to the intention of the Government relating to mining legislation on hours and wages?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Isaac Foot)My right hon. Friend who is, unfortunately, unable to be present, has asked me to reply. As the House will be aware, it has always been the view of His Majesty's Government that the problems which will arise in July next, when the Coal Mines Act of 1931 is due to expire, should prove susceptible of solution by agreement between the two sides in the industry. In. the hope of such agreement being reached, the employers were urged some time ago to get into touch with the workmen and explore the possibilities of settlement. Conversations between the two sides have taken place, and both my right hon. Friend and I have done all in our power to find a way out of the difficulties which have arisen. I regret, however, to report that the possibilities of an agreement between the employers and the workmen have now been finally exhausted. In these circumstances, the initiative devolves upon the 549 Government, and it has been decided to introduce at once a Bill to deal with the situation. The Bill will be in the hands of hon. Members to-morrow. My right hon. Friend will make a full statement upon the Second Reading, which I hope will take place early next week.
§ Mr. BATEYAs the Minister says in his reply that the two sides are unable to corns to an agreement, will he state why the Government propose to legislate in the interests of the owners as against the miners?
§ Mr. FOOTOn that I am sure the hon. Member has been misinformed. I have been in touch with the negotiations all through, and any such suggestion has no basis.
§ Mr. FOOTThe hon. Member again is misinformed, as he will see when he reads the Bill. It deals with more than Part I, and I suggest that he should await publication of the Bill.