§ 2. Mr. Silkinasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men are directed to work in mines away from home without accommodation on terms within their means being first arranged for them; and whether he will give instructions that no man should be sent to work in a mine until such provision has been made.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)No, Sir. I am not aware of any general difficulty of this kind. The instructions are that when men are sent to work away from home arrangements should be made to ensure that satisfactory accommodation is available for them. If my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind I shall be happy to look into them.
§ Mr. SilkinI shall be happy to supply them.
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs it not a fact that there are very few of these cases so far as the Bevin boys are concerned and that they are fairly well looked after in the mining areas?
§ Mr. TinkerIs not the position that a man directed to work in the mines is sent to the locality nearest to where he resides?
§ Mr. BevinThat is so where there are any vacancies in that district. Preference is given if the vacancies are there, but if they are not I have to send them somewhere else.