HC Deb 09 September 1941 vol 374 cc20-2
26. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that six weeks have elapsed since the Miners' Welfare Commission agreed to the Baths Fund being used to provide pithead can teens, but district miners' welfare committees and collieries are still without any further information on the subject; that, in consequence, the provision of pithead canteens is being seriously delayed; and, in view of the urgency of the matter, what action he proposes to take to make the necessary finance available so that the work can proceed?

Mr. Grenfell

Arrangements for assisting the provision of colliery canteens out of the Miners' Welfare Baths Fund have involved considerable preparatory measures. The Miners' Welfare Com mission has, however, now issued particulars of these arrangements to all District Miners' Welfare Committees and Colliery Companies. Work is proceeding with the minimum of delay, and so far out of 1,100 pits employing more than 50 workers each, 666, or 60 per cent., have either already started a canteen service or should have one in operation very shortly. Provision will then have been made for 78 per cent, of the total number of men employed.

Mr. Smith

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the canteens mentioned in this Question were canteens where men could have sit-down meals and not just meat pies; is he aware that six valuable weeks have been lost because no instructions have been sent out, and would it not have been a good thing to have told them to get on with the work without delay?

Mr. Grenfell

They have been told to get on with the work, and the work is going on. It is wrong to assume that because this House has not formally approved the expenditure the work has not been done.

Mr. Smith

On a point of Order. This Question was put down at the request of the District Miners' Voluntary Association, who handed to me correspondence showing that less than 10 days ago the Miners' Welfare Commission informed them that no sanction could be given to the spending of this money until a special Regulation had been passed, under the Defence of the Realm Act. I am not in the habit of putting down Questions unless I have substantial evidence, and this is not the first time that my hon. Friend has made statements which in my opinion are not in accordance with the facts.

Mr. Speaker

No point of Order arises on that question.

Mr. Gallacher

Can we not hear how many canteens there are at the Scottish pits? I think we have a right to ask about Scottish pits.