HC Deb 21 February 1933 vol 274 cc1567-8
8. Sir JOSEPH LAMB

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the discharge of 200 men from the New Haden collieries, Cheadle, Staffordshire, on the ground of insufficiency of quota granted to that colliery; and if, in view of the consequent increase in the number of unemployed in that area and increased charge on public funds, he will endeavour to obtain an early resumption of work at that colliery?

Dr. BURGIN

No, Sir; my hon. Friend's attention had not previously been called to this matter. It is understood, as the result of inquiries which have been made, that, while a number of men have been discharged from the New Haden colliery, the owners are commencing to draw coal from their Berry Hill colliery, which has been closed for some time. It is to be hoped that the discharge of men from the one pit will be offset by increased employment at the other.

Sir J. LAMB

Is my hon. Friend aware that the quota which has been given to the New Haden colliery would only allow the men to work 1½ days a week at the rate at which they have been producing coal during the last six months; and is there any reason why a man should be sent from one pit, which is close to his residence, to work at another colliery some distance away?

Dr. BURGIN

We must not have any misapprehension about this matter. This is a case where the quota is allotted to the entire undertaking, leaving those in charge of the undertaking to determine from which pit to draw their coal. They chose to close temporarily one colliery in order to reach a deeper seam, and their men were temporarily transferred to another. Now, as I understand it, that temporary emergency has passed, and the owners of the undertaking have the natural option to select the other colliery from which to draw their coal. I am told that that is the cause of what has been done.

Sir J. LAMB

But is my hon. Friend aware that they are weeks behind with their orders, because, although they already have the coal, they are not allowed to supply it?

Dr. BURGIN

That is a matter about which I will make inquiries.