HC Deb 20 February 1940 vol 357 cc1154-5
79. Mr. R. J. Taylor

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the short-time working in the Northumberland mines, and what steps he is taking to bring about an improvement?

84. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the great hardship that exists among miners in the North-east coalfield owing to the irregular working of the pits; whether he is aware that some pits have only worked one shift a week, and that there is considerable discontent among the miners; and when he expects to be in a position to report on the joint efforts of the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Shipping and the Mines Department to deal with the situation?

The Secretary for Mines (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

My Department is in close consultation with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Shipping in an endeavour to improve the position; and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport proposes to make a statement to-morrow on the internal transport of coal from the North-eastern coalfields.

Mr. Taylor

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, according to his own statements, he has now been in consultation on this matter for a considerable time; and is he also aware that there are two districts in my division in one of which unemployment has increased from 600 to 3,000, while in the other it has increased from 1,000 to 10,000?

Mr. Lloyd

I think the difficulties, which are considerable, are understood fully. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would await my right hon. Friend's statement.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in spite of that close co-operation to which he has referred, thousands of miners in Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire have been idle for many weeks and that some of them are getting only one shift a week; that there is serious discontent in the area and that the miners have come to the conclusion that the Ministry of Mines, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Shipping and the Government generally have failed them at this time?

Mr. Thorne

How can the hon. Gentleman reconcile the fact that so many miners are out of employment with the fact that thousands of families cannot get coal at all?

Mr. Lloyd

I have said that the limitation on production at present is the amount that can be transported by the available means.

Mr. Lawson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this has gone on for months but was never taken any notice of by the country until large numbers of consumers found themselves in want of coal; and when are the Government going to do something about it?

Mr. Lloyd

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would await the statement which is to be made by my right hon. Friend to-morrow.

Mr. Davidson

Why not get an old colonel who has risen from the ranks and place him in charge of this Department?