32. Mr. David Adamsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that many miners in the County of Durham working short time are advised that, for prospective national requirements, they will not be permitted to seek full-time employment in other industries; and whether it is intended to guarantee full wages to such men or alternative work to make up full employment?
§ Mr. GrenfellMy hon. Friend will no doubt have seen the answer given on 15th August to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. W. Joseph Stewart) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. He will, I am sure, appreciate that it would be impossible to ensure either the maintenance of sufficient supplies of coal during the war or the preservation of an adequate mining industry for the future if pits were to be closed down whenever they could not be worked full-time. While full wages cannot be guaranteed to men on short-time, it must not be overlooked that a considerable measure of assistance is provided in such cases by the Unemployment Insurance Scheme.
Mr. AdamsDoes not the Minister agree that the proposition I am submitting is a reasonable one, and that men who are 1112 retained in an industry which cannot give them employment are entitled to wages for that short time?
§ Mr. GrenfellIt is not intended to retain indefinitely men who are not wanted in the mining industry, but on the evidence available to me I have come to the conclusion that this is not the time to send men away from the mining industry in view of probable eventualities.
§ Mr. GrenfellThe men are being paid. If they are idle for two days a week, they get unemployment pay.
§ Sir William DavisonWill the hon. Gentleman transfer some of these men to mines supplying the home consumers, who cannot get enough coal?
§ Mr. GrenfellThe hon. Gentleman can rest assured that no alternative to idleness is being neglected. We are considering schemes for transferring the men to coalfields which can employ more men.