§ 3. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Labour the number of person employed in and about coalmines who have been prosecuted by his Department in each of the several coalfields, giving the number of miners employed, or the percentage of prosecution to the number employed in each case?
§ Mr. BevinThe available records show that up to the end of June, 1942, the number of persons prosecuted for breaches of the Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Orders was as follows:
I have no statistics which would enable me to classify prosecutions instituted under the Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Orders by reference to the different coalfields in which persons prosecuted were employed. It would not be in the public interest to give information about the number of men employed.
England … … … 424 Wales … … … 14 Scotland … … … 53
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Minister aware of the suspicion that some of his officers are very much keener on prosecuting miners in some coalfield districts than in others, and will he look into this?
§ Mr. BevinI do not accept that statement. I am quite sure my officials have acted strictly in accordance with the instructions and, in the main, in accordance with the advice of the responsible committees.
§ Mr. GallacherNo managers have yet been prosecuted.