HC Deb 28 November 1949 vol 470 cc765-6
37. Sir John Mellor

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why, by letter dated 11th July, reference E.S.279/1/6, to a Birmingham firm, he refused to examine complaints against the National Coal Board as his agents for the marketing of opencast coal; and why, by letter, dated 11th November, to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield, he repudiated responsibility for the National Coal Board even when acting as his agents.

The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Gaitskell)

I cannot accept the hon. Member's statement in the first part of the Question. The fact is, as the hon. Member was informed in a letter dated 28th July, the complaint referred to was investigated and settlement made in accordance with the agreed procedure, established between the National Coal Board and the merchants at my request. Nor can I agree, as regards the second part of the Question, that my letter of 11th November involved any repudiation of responsibility. There is no reason why I should intervene unless and until the agreed procedure has been used. Only if no settlement should be reached would it be appropriate for the matter to be dealt with by the Ministry.

Sir J. Mellor

Why, then, did the right hon. Gentleman write "The settlement of individual complaints is a matter in which the Ministry cannot intervene"? Is he or is he not repudiating responsibility for the Coal Board as his agents?

Mr. Gaitskell

I thought that I had made clear to the hon. Member and to the House as a whole that it is desirable, in the first instance, that the agreed procedure should be tried out, and that was what was referred to in the quotation which the hon. Gentleman has read. If the agreed procedure breaks down and no settlement is reached in relation to opencast coal, I should consider it my duty to reconsider the matter.

Sir J. Mellor

In his reply to me, did not the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that the matter could be taken to the headquarters of the National Coal Board but no further?

Mr. Gaitskell

No, I do not agree.

Sir J. Mellor

Will the right hon. Gentleman publish the two letters in HANSARD, so that hon. Members can see for themselves.

Mr. Gaitskell

I have not the slightest objection to publishing the correspondence in HANSARD.