HC Deb 30 April 1936 vol 311 cc1091-2
61. Mr. G. HALL

asked the Secretary for Mines what progress is being made in the preparation of schemes for the organised selling of coal; and when the necessary orders under the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, to cover these schemes will be laid before Parliament?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)

I apologise for the length of this reply.

The preparation by the coal owners of the schemes for the organised selling of coal is involving the consideration by the coal industry and by my Department of a number of important and difficult questions, but I am glad to say that, considering the complexity of the problems involved, good progress is being made in reaching agreement on these questions. The House will remember that last October the Central Council of the colliery owners gave the Government a formal assurance that the schemes would become effective by 1st July. That date was fixed after taking info consideration the Parliamentary time required for the approval of the Draft Orders under Section 3 (4) of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, which is over two months. The Central Council have recently, however, asked me to agree to a postponement of that date until the 1st August, and in the circumstances the Government have no alternative but to accept the situation. I understand that the Secretary of the Mineworkers' Federation of Great Britain has been informed by the Central Council of the terms of the letter which they have sent to me.

As regards the second part of the question, I have informed the coal owners that the representations to be made to me under Section 3 (4) of the Act to cover the amendments of their district schemes must be in my hands not later than 15th May. The Draft Orders will be laid before Parliament immediately thereafter. I should like to take this opportunity of emphasising that there is only a fortnight left within which I must receive the representations from the districts if the revised assurance regarding the coming into effect of the schemes by 1st August is to be implemented.

Mr. HALL

Seeing that miners' wages might be dependent upon the setting up of these agencies, may I ask whether the Miners' Federation has been consulted in connection with these schemes?

Captain CROOKSHANK

The hon. Gentleman, of course, knows that, as the result of the recent settlement, a Joint Consultative Committee has been set up, representative of owners and men; and I should have thought that this was certainly one of the matters that they would discuss.

Mr. HOLDSWORTH

Have there been any actual consultations?

Captain CROOKSHANK

I think the hon. Gentleman may take it that consultations in every direction are taking place; and, after all, the matter will eventually come before Parliament.

Mr. H. G. WILLIAMS

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say what steps have been taken to safeguard the. interests of the general public who buy coal?