§ 16. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give general directions to the National Coal Board to increase the allocation and modernisation of miners' houses in areas where no unofficial strikes have taken place.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesI sympathise with my hon. Friend's desire to encourage miners who have records of regular attendance at the pits, and I recognise the importance of good housing conditions in mining areas, but it would not be proper for me to trespass on the local responsibilities in this matter of housing authorities and the National Coal Board.
§ Dame Irene WardWill my right hon. Friend kindly convey to the National Coal Board that I and a lot of other people consider it very unfair on miners in the northern region to be left with houses which are neither modernised nor very good when they have a good industrial record and good industrial relations, whereas, particularly in South Wales, some pits have had to be closed and then reopened and closed down and reopened again, and that the public are getting rather sick of more attention being given to miners who do not do their job and less attention to miners who do? Cannot my right hon. Friend get something done about this?
§ Mr. JonesI am sure that the National Coal Board will read my hon. Friend's words and, as usual, pay great attention to everything she has said.