§ 46. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to accept full financial cost, now borne by the National Coal Board, for the transference of redundant miners from one mining area to another.
§ Mr. GunterNo, Sir. The cost of transferring workers within the employer's service is, except for the special case of key workers needed in development districts, a matter for industry itself and I cannot give exceptional treatment to the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. WainwrightIs my right hon. Friend aware that if a redundant miner moves into another district and takes up some other occupation in, for instance, a steel works, his Department stands the cost of the transfer, whereas if the miner happens to move into another mining area for a job with the Coal Board, the Coal Board must stand the cost? Does he not think it unfair that the Coal Board should have to pay £3½ million a year for social responsibilities which should be borne by the State?
§ Mr. GunterThe Coal Board accepts that social responsibility and has carried it out.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs my right hon. Friend aware that, instead of the Coal Board accepting this responsibility, it was imposed on them by successive Governments? If redundancy is due to the policy of successive Governments, should 914 not the Government accept the responsibility for it?
§ Mr. GunterThe point is that this is a matter of money, as my right hon. Friend knows. We are informed that the arrangements concerning the National Coal Board and its redundant workers are being carried out satisfactorily. We have had no strong pressure on this matter.