§ 38. Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what salary is to be paid by the Ministry to the recently appointed Directors of Production.
§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Major Lloyd George)I presume my hon. Friend is referring to the recently appointed Group Production Directors and in that connection I would refer him to my reply to the hon. Member for Yardley (Mr. Salt) on 25th January last.
§ Mr. MainwaringArising out of that reply, may I ask the Minister whether, since these persons, against whom I do not desire to reflect in the slightest, were in complete charge of these mines beforehand, what earthly effect did he hope to make by appointing them directors?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not quite follow what my hon. Friend means. If he would like to know what idea I had in mind, it was that of taking those people who are better qualified and extending their supervisory powers.
§ Mr. MainwaringIs it not a fact that these several men were in complete charge of the same group of collieries beforehand?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThat may be so in a particular case in South Wales. If the hon. Member takes account of the whole country, he will find that it is not so general.