HC Deb 13 July 1937 vol 326 cc1044-5
33. Mr. Charles Brown

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he intends to have any further investigation made into the working of overtime in coal mines?

The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) on 28th June, of which I am sending him a copy. In answer to a supplementary question by the same hon. Member, I indicated that I was prepared to have further special investigation made when I had reason to think that there was sufficient cause for it, but that at present I had no such reason.

Mr. Brown

Can the Secretary for Mines state whether the special inspectors he appointed some time ago to watch this matter have solely confined their attentions to Lancashire and Scotland, or have they been asked to make investigations elsewhere?

Captain Crookshank

That is another question which I answered the other day also.

Mr. G. Griffiths

Is not the Secretary for Mines aware that the inspector of mines for Yorkshire stated 12 months ago that 25 per cent. of the books on overtime were incorrect? Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman know about that?