§ 45. Mr. BATEYasked the Secretary for Mines whether the proposals before the coalowners as a substitution for the provisions of the Coal Mines Bill are the same as provided in the Bill; and, in the event that they are not the same, will this House be given an opportunity of amending the coalowners' proposals?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe proposals under consideration by the colliery owners deal with the same points as the Coal Mines Bill, but the owners' proposals provide for separate allocations for inland and export coal instead of freeing export coal entirely from quantitative control as provided in the Bill. The Parliamentary procedure under which they can be made effective permits of discussion, but not of amendment.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the hon. Member in a position to say whether the Government will take steps to withdraw the Bill if he has received the report from the coalowners?
§ Mr. BROWNI shall know when I have seen the report of the last district, which I think will be early next week.
§ Mr. DICKIEIf the Minister is prepared to accept Amendments in the Bill made by the coalowners, will he not undertake to give consideration to proposals made in this House for Amendments in other desirable directions?
§ Mr. TINKERWill the hon. Gentleman make a statement to the House after he has seen the coalowners?