§ 2. Major Guy Lloydasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what has been the total cost to date of propaganda and entertainment to bring to the notice of miners the importance of maintaining output under the five-day week.
§ Mr. ShinwellIt is quite impossible to give any such figure.
§ Major LloydWould the right hon. Gentleman give the House information as to the expense, and the result in increased output of the production-drive conducted under the auspices of Joe Baksi and his wife throughout the mining areas?
§ Mr. ShinwellIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down that Question, I will do my best to give an answer.
§ Major LloydHow can that be, when the right hon. Gentleman has said that he has no knowledge whatever of the cost of these various curious forms of entertainment?
§ Mr. ShinwellI said that I would do my best to give the hon. and gallant Gentleman an answer.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister satisfied that, whatever the amount expended, it was a good investment, seeing that we have in the industry greater harmony and increased output as a result of it?
§ Mr. ShinwellAs regards the result of the propaganda under which this expense was to some extent incurred, we have succeeded in inducing a large number of men and boys to enter the industry since nationalisation.
§ Mr. FernyhoughWould not the Minister agree that there is no section of the community who deserve a little entertainment more than the miner and his wife?