HC Deb 09 July 1936 vol 314 cc1373-4
8. Mr. G. GRIFFITHS

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has anything to report from the International Labour Conference on hours of labour in coal mines; and whether, seeing that the United States miners are working a 35-hour week which has proved economically advantageous, he will take steps to bring about a similar state of things in this country?

Mr. E. BROWN

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour to a question asked by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith) on 25th June on the subject of the recent International Labour Conference.

Mr. G. GRIFFITHS

Do not the Government intend to do anything in the direction of a 36-hour week for our miners—

Mr. BROWN

We shall be able to discuss that matter when the White Paper is published.

Mr. GRIFFITHS

I had not quite finished my question. Did not Lord Sankey state that when the miners were producing 250,000,000 tons a year we should have these hours; and is it not a fact that they reached that figure of 250,000,000 tons 16 years ago?

Mr. BROWN

The hon. Member will understand that I am not responsible for Lord Sankey.