§ 16. Mr. Collindridgeasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that some collieries in South Yorkshire are off work one and two days a week; can he state the reason for this; and will he take further immediate steps to have suitable measures adopted to remedy this short-time working in view of the national demands for coal at the present time?
§ Mr. LloydYes, Sir. The hon. Member will appreciate that in the early stages of war a certain amount of dislocation, particularly in transport and shipping, is inevitable; the Department is fully alive to these problems and is taking all possible steps to meet the situation. In the meantime all immediate essential demands for coal are being successfully met.
§ Mr. CollindridgeDoes not the Minister think that the stocking of surplus coal in accordance with the precedent adopted in industrial disputes might serve on this occasion?
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that although there might have been some excuse for it in the early days of the war, there is no longer any justification for the working of short time generally? What does he propose to do about it? Is he going to sit quietly and do nothing and wait until the men and the owners have come to a decision?
§ Mr. T. SmithHas the Minister's Department any contact with the managements of these collieries where short time is being worked, both in South and in West Yorkshire?
§ Mr. LloydI cannot say about these particular collieries, but we have been in touch with the owners generally on the question of stocks.
§ 27. Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that miners are still losing days intermittently; that this lost time is considerable; and whether he now proposes, in the light of experience, to abandon the scheme for rationing coal, gas and electricity?
§ Mr. LloydThe amount of time lost at collieries during the fortnight ended 14th October was considerably less than for the corresponding fortnight last year. As I indicated during the Debate on the Adjournment on 10th October, I do not consider that rationing is responsible for idle time at pits. Such idle time as exists is due not to rationing but to transportation difficulties. As at present advised, I do not, therefore, propose to abandon the rationing scheme nor to make any further relaxation than that which I announced on Friday.
§ Mr. LawsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that considerable time is being lost in the pits of Durham; and is he still prepared to carry on with the rationing system, in view of the fact that there is wholesale working of part-time and that a great mass of men are losing employment as a result of it?
§ Mr. LloydThe amount of short time which has been worked for the last fortnight in Durham is considerably less than it was this time last year. I am certainly prepared to discuss the question.
§ Mr. LawsonIn view of the answer which the hon. Gentleman has given to the effect that he made a statement upon this matter in a recent Debate, and as this is a matter of high policy, can we have a guarantee that those who make this high policy will reconsider the whole situation?