§ 20. Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Labour if he will define the scope of the limitation which he placed upon the assurance given by the Parliamentary Secretary on 24th July, 1946, that coal miners, who are discharged from a particular colliery, will be at liberty to find for themselves employment at other collieries.
§ Mr. IsaacsSo far as I am concerned, there is no such limitation.
§ Sir J. MellorLast Thursday the right hon. Gentleman said the assurance had no relation to disciplinary measures. Will he, then, explain what he means? He has attempted to qualify the assurance given by the Parliamentary Secretary. Does he mean to abide by that assurance?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am standing by the assurance given by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary. The hon. Member wanted to know if it related to disciplinary measures and I said it did not enter into the question. Therefore, I am standing by the assurance as originally given.
§ Sir J. MellorSurely, it would be best, if the right hon. Gentleman wants to escape from the clear-cut nature of that assurance, that he should openly withdraw from it and not seek to wriggle out in this way.
§ Mr. IsaacsI have stated quite categorically that I am not trying to escape or wriggle out. I am standing by it.