§ 1. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour the reason for the delay from June to December in the hearing of the Grigglestone miners' appeal by the umpire; and whether such delays are due to shortage of staff?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I understand the appeal in this case was received in October and not in June, as suggested by the hon. Member, and it is to be heard by the umpire to-day. In view of the necessity for further inquiries in the case, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that there has been no undue delay.
§ Mr. LUNNIs the hon. Gentleman sure that there was no application made 1798 before October, and is it not too long to keep cases waiting six months after the event?
§ Mr. HUDSONThe delay was not the fault of the Department. If there was any fault at all, it was that of the people concerned in not bringing the case before the Department.
§ Mr. LUNNBut what about the umpire? Is he too busy to deal with cases that come before him within six months?
§ Mr. HUDSONIt is not a question of six months. The appeal in this case was only received by the Department in October, so that the case has taken less than two months. In view of the difficulties of the case, involving a lot of detailed inquiries as to what happened, as to which men were employed and which were not, and so on, there has been no undue delay at all.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWas the original delay due to the mine workers who lodged an appeal or to the local Employment Exchange; and is it not the case that a particular length of time is allowed before an appeal is sent in?
§ Mr. PIKEDoes not the fault actually apply to the trade union responsible for looking after these men?
§ Mr. HUDSONI should like notice of that question, but I understand that the fault is entirely due to the trade union concerned.