§ 7. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that a highly-placed official of the South Wales 579 Coalowners' Association has taken up residence at the Miners' Welfare Convalescent Home in South Wales; and, as this is not one of the statutory purposes of the fund, will he make inquiries with a view to taking the appropriate steps?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Mr. David Grenfell)This Question concerns the management of the house which, under the terms of a Trust Deed, is in the hands of a Board of a Management representative of the colliery owners and mine workers of South Wales and is not one in which I should wish to intervene. The Board have, however, volunteered the information that the official in question is one of the joint secretaries of the Board, and in that capacity has been asked by the unanimous vote of the Board to remain at the Home pending the completion of certain re-arrangements there. They inform me also that he is not occupying patients' quarters and has insisted on paying a rent and bearing all his living expenses.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs my hon. Friend aware that that is an explanation that was supplied subsequent to the taking up of residence on the part of this coalowners' official, and does he not think that it will create a very bad impression among the miners of South Wales if their welfare home is to be transformed into a funkhole for coalowners' officials?
§ Mr. GrenfellThe explanation was given to my Department by the South Wales Committee.