§ 39. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he will be in a position to make a statement on his discussions with the National Coal Board about the recommendations of the Turner Committee on Mining Subsidence.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI can add little to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government in reply to the hon. Member on 1st November. A comprehensive review is under way, and I can assure the hon. Member that no time will be lost.
§ Mr. SwinglerWe have had that answer for four years now; has the Minister no sense of shame in this matter at all? Is he not aware that we had almost exactly the same answer in 1951 when he first took over and that the victims of mining subsidence have the impression that the right hon. Gentleman is committed to a policy of unlimited procrastination? Is it due to his own lack of interest, or is the Chancellor responsible for the fact that no progress has been made in four years?
§ Mr. LloydNo, Sir. I do not wish to be unduly modest. Compared with the record of the last Government, I could feel positively proud of our record.