HC Deb 10 December 1968 vol 775 cc184-6
13. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Power what is the practice of his Department regarding the length of time which journeys to alternative work at collieries must take before a worker qualifies for compensation under the Redundancy Payments Act as being unable to find alternative employment.

Mr. Freeson

The suitability of the alternative employment offered to workers at closing collieries is for the National Coal Board in the first instance, not the Department. Any worker who thinks he has been wrongly refused a redundancy payment may ask for his case to go to an industrial tribunal.

Mr. Dalyell

In general terms, is travelling time of over an hour each way considered to be satisfactory in terms of the Redundancy Payments Act?

Mr. Freeson

I must again tell my hon. Friend that this is not a matter for my Department. Questions of redundancy payment are dealt with by the Department of Employment and Productivity.

Miss Herbison

Surely my hon. Friend is aware that when these jobs are offered, some over 20 miles away, I understand, if the men do not accept them they do not receive redundancy pay? Does he not realise that this is a very serious matter in an area where there is so little alternative work? A considerable number of men, over 200, at Riddochhill Colliery and Kingshill No. 2 have no work at all.

Mr. Freeson

I appreciate the point that is being made by my hon. Friend, but the fact remains that any question of appeal against a decision considered to be wrong regarding a redundancy payment is not for the Ministry of Power, it is for the industrial tribunals within the purview of the Department of Employment and Productivity.

19. Mr. G. Elfed Davies

asked the Minister of Power whether the payment arrears have now been cleared on the Redundant Mineworkers (Payments Scheme) Order 1968; and on what basis, since the payments to date have been a little over £1⅓ million, some £28 million has been estimated as being the total cost to the Exchequer between 18th July, 1967 and 18th July, 1971.

Mr. Freeson

Arrears accumulated by the time payments began in August have now been cleared, apart from a few cases where rr.en have not replied to letters. Expenditure will rise steeply as men enter their second year of redundancy and become entitled to an increase in Scheme benefit equivalent to exhausted flat rate unemployment benefit.

Mr. Davies

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is growing concern, in areas where pits have closed since this Order was introduced, about the way in which it has been applied by the Board, which has shown anything but the humane and generous attitude envisaged by this House?

Mr. Freeson

I am not aware that there is any general feeling of anxiety on that score. My impression is that the Scheme is working well. But, as I have said, machinery for appeals is being set up, and I believe that there is a later Question on the Order Paper in this connection.

25. Mr. Cronin

asked the Minister of Power when he estimates local committees will come into operation to examine disputed applications for redundancy payments by coal miners; and what instructions the committees will have with regard to dealing with borderline cases.

Mr. Freeson

The reconstituted local committees will operate from 1st January, 1969. They will consider cases according to the provisions of the Redundant Mineworkers' (Payments Scheme) Order, 1968, and submit their findings to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Cronin

Will my hon. Friend make sure that these Committees deal with borderline cases not only on the strict basis of this Order but preferably with some degree of liberality, because this will have an important effect on the morale of the industry generally

Mr. Freeson

We have considered it best, in co-operation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, to establish the use of the personnel of the industrial tribunals to examine and advise on difficult cases which are not settled by local committees, and, ultimately, there can be references to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Owen

Will my hon. Friend tell us the composition of these committees and when they will really get to work? At the moment, January seems to be irrelevant to the problems arising in the coalfields.

Mr. Freeson

I cannot, off the cuff, give the actual membership of these committees. But 1st January is not too far distant; it is only a matter of weeks now. I think that the committees will be able to handle the problem.