§ 3. Major C. S. Taylorasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to recent prosecutions of youths for refusal to obey directions to work in the coalmines, and the sympathetic view taken by some magistrates in cases where the youths are members of pre-Service organisations and anxious to enter a fighting unit; and whether he will now reconsider his decision, and exempt from the ballot, youths with two years proficient service in these organisations, and whose records show them to be especially suitable for service in one of the Armed Forces.
§ 6. Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make, having regard to recent police court decisions in the cases of youths refusing to carry out the directions of the Ministry to work in the mining industry, with a view to clarifying the position.
§ 8. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Minister of Labour, whether, in view of the growing protests against the policy of balloting for the mines, he will now reconsider his decision and exempt from the ballot boys who have reached a required standard of pre-Service training, and who desire to enter the fighting Services.
§ Mr. BevinThe decision to direct young men to work in the coalmines was taken by the Government after the most careful consideration. Having regard to the vital necessity to increase the labour force in the industry if the war effort is not to be impeded by lack of coal, there can, at present, be no question of a revision of that decision. As regards the ballot scheme, there is no doubt that, on the whole, it is working well, and that the system of the ballot is the fairest that can be devised. The young men who have patriotically accepted the position—and they are the overwhelming majority—are doing extremely well; all honour to them. The number of young men who have disobeyed directions to undergo training for coalmining is very small. I am anxious that all possible steps should be taken to persuade them to obey the directions, and 901 thus avoid having to penalise them, but if they disobey the directions I have no alternative but to institute proceedings.
Some statements that have been made seem to imply that there is some indignity about work in the coalmines, but the truth is entirely the reverse. My attention has also been drawn to remarks, said to have been made by the chairman of a local committee of the Air Training Corps, that he would do what he could to support members of the organisation who fail to comply with the lawful directions given to them, and I must, in this connection, remind all who are in positions of authority, that it is their duty to encourage those with whom they have influence to serve their country wherever it is found necessary in the national interest to post them. Any person who encourages young men to act otherwise, is doing a great disservice to the country at this grave juncture of the war. As regards the action of certain magistrates, while I am always pleased to see justice tempered by mercy, it is the duty of magistrates to enforce the law, and it is no part of their function to use the courts for expressing their personal views on the policy of that law, and certainly not to exercise their judicial powers so as to defeat its purpose.
As regards the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East-bourne (Major Taylor), I would point out in respect of the members of the Air Training Corps, that all young men who volunteer and are accepted for flying duties in the Royal Air Force or the Fleet Air Arm, are automatically exempted from the ballot, and it is, therefore, only members of that Corps who are training for ground duties who are liable to be directed to coalmining. Having regard to the extreme importance at the present time of increasing the labour force in the coalmining industry which has a very high priority, I should not feel justified in exempting further categories of young men from the operation of the ballot.
§ Mr. TurtonOn a point of Order. Is it in Order for the Minister of Labour to comment on the action of magistrates, or on what their duty is in certain cases?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. Gentleman merely made a general statement and did not comment on the action of particular magistrates.
§ Mr. TurtonWith great respect, as I heard the right hon. Gentleman, he gave a direction to magistrates on what their duty was.
§ Mr. SpeakerI did not hear it in that sense.
§ Major C. S. TaylorWhile I should like to thank the Minister of Labour for the very full reply he has given, I feel that there are certain aspects of this matter that need clearing up, and as I see no possibility of doing so by Question and answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.