HC Deb 09 September 1941 vol 374 cc13-6
19. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any statement to make on the coal situation?

Sir Irving Albery

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of miners who have returned to coalmining from other occupations since July; and how many of these have been released from the Army?

Miss Ward

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of miners who have been accepted for coalmining work since the issue of the registration order and the number who have commenced work; and also the number in each instance of coal getters?

The Secretary for Mines (Mr. David Grenfell)

Registration of men who had left the coal-mining industry for other industrial employment took place on the I7th-18th July. One hundred and five thousand three hundred and seventy-six men registered, of whom 25,468 were willing to return to mining. A very substantial proportion of the men registering was found to be men who had left the industry by reason of physical incapacity and many others were engaged in occupations from which their withdrawal would have caused disproportionate detriment to the war effort. Up to yesterday 16,000 men have been placed at work, of which rather over two-thirds are face workers: in addition a substantial number of men have received directions to return to duty at the mines. Mining managements are being required to accept all men considered suitable by the Ministry of Labour and National Service. The Government trust that the arrangements now being made will make it unnecessary to recall men from the Fighting Forces at this critical period of the War.

Mr. T. Smith

Do the 16,000 include those men who have been returned to the pits and then find there is no work for them? Also, can my hon. Friend say what is the present position with regard to the production of coal in the mines?

Mr. Grenfell

I am answering a Question on the latter point later. The 16,000 are men actually placed at the pits.

Mr. Smith

But docs the figure include those men who returned to the pits and found there was no work for them when they got there?

Mr. Grenfell

The proportion of men for whom there is no work after they have got back to the pits is very small. Occasionally there is failure to connect men and employment, but the proportion of cases is very small—insignificant. I can assure my hon. Friend that those cases are a very minor exception to the general rule that the men are going back to work.

Miss Ward

Is there a medical examination before the men are taken on to work at the coal face, and is that examination compulsory?

Mr. Grenfell

If a man asks for a medical examination on the plea that he is unfit to return to heavy work in the mines, he is given a medical examination before he goes back.

Miss Ward

In the interests of the protection of the men working underground previously docs not my hon. Friend think that before these men arc sent to the coal face there ought to be a compulsory examination, and if the colliery companies ask for it will my hon. Friend see that action is taken?

Mr. Grenfell

No, but if the man himself believes he is unfit he can ask for an examination and it is always given.

Miss Ward

But he may not know.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Ministry of Labour are directing some men to go back to the mines who are already engaged on work of national importance and who will suffer a reduction of £2 a week in their wages by going back to the mines, and that they resent it?

Mr. Grenfell

I think that is implied in this scheme.

Mr. Levy

Surely the national effort could be better served than by this method of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether there is coordination in the matter of finding accommodation for all these men who are going back to the pits?

Mr. Grenfell

Yes, there is co-ordination between all the departments concerned. The Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, the Mines Department and the Local Production Committees are all concerned in this important matter.

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some men who are sent back cannot get accommodation?

Mr. Grenfell

There are exceptions, but on the whole the men are finding suitable accommodation and finding work.

Mr. De la Bère

Is not the action taken quite inadequate?

Mr. A. Bevan

Does the hon. Gentleman hold the view that the steps taken are satisfactory and will provide enough labour power in the mines?

Mr. Grenfell

No, but our proceedings are not ended with the return of 16,000 men to the mines. Altogether over 30,000 men have been found, and as far as lodging accommodation and working accommodation become available the men will go back.

Mr. Bevan

I did not ask that. I wanted to know whether my hon. Friend is satisfied that by these means he has found the man-power which is necessary to raise the output of coal to what we need?

Mr. Grenfell

As I have said, 16,000 men are not enough and we expect a larger number. So many men are in sight by this method that it is assumed not to be necessary to ask for the return of more men from the Army.

Mr. Culverwell

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many men from the mines have been called up for the Army since the beginning of the war?