§ 45. Brigadier Raynerasked the Prime Minister whether representatives of the National Coal Board were present during his meeting with the National Union of Mine Workers on 3rd January.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)No. Sir.
§ Brigadier RaynerAs, on this occasion, the right hon. Gentleman went over the head of the National Coal Board, which he appointed, does it mean that he has lost faith in that body and equally lost faith in the other nationalised undertakings?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and gallant Member is entirely wrong. This meeting was undertaken with the full knowledge and approval of the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydEven though this meeting took place at the request of the National Coal Board, is it not a confession, to some extent, of failure in their relations with the miners?
§ The Prime MinisterNot the slightest. The right hon. Gentleman will remember that very often when difficulties have arisen meetings have been held by Prime Ministers, including my predecessor, when they desired to speak more widely to the people actually concerned. It was done in regard to the coal miners during the war, and it never showed any distrust. It was done also with the coal owners, and I do not think that the right hon. Gentleman was pressed then about having shown distrust of the coal owners.
§ Mr. PickthornHow, since the National Coal Board was not to be pre-sent on this occasion, did the right hon.
Gentleman make sure that no day-to-day matters would be raised?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not quite know what the hon. Member means.
§ The Prime MinisterI understand that the hon. Member is referring to Questions in the House of Commons.