FIVE-DAY WEEK FOR MINERS. (Hansard, 22 April 1947)

§ LORD BEVERIDGE
My Lords, I beg to ask the first question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ LORD AMMON
My Lords, on June 26, 1946, my right honourable friend the Minister of Fuel and Power announced in another place the Government's conclusion that, as a major step in the campaign to attract more recruits to the coalmining industry, the Government offered no objection in principle, provided that arrangements and conditions could be established with the full co-operation of the miners, to an organized five-day week of a kind which would secure the output of coal necessary to meet the country's needs; but that the working out of the scheme in detail, including the date of application, was a matter to be undertaken within the industry itself, and would proceed as soon as the National Coal Board were constituted. In December last the National Coal Board stated that they had entered into discussions with the National Union of Mineworkers about the conditions to be attached to the five-day week and, being assured of the co-operation of the Union in securing the output of coal which the country needs, the five-day week would come into operation immediately conditions had been agreed or submitted to arbitration, subject, if necessary, to the Government's authorization.
In March this year full agreement was reached between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers on the conditions which, in the Board's view, offered the best prospect of mitigating any loss of output which might result from the reduction of the normal working week. The Board submitted the agreed terms to the Minister of Fuel and Power and they were authorized by the Government to introduce in the coal mining industry from May 4 a five-day week of the present underground hours on the conditions agreed. The agreement has not yet been 4 signed, but when it is signed a copy will be deposited with the Minister of Fuel and Power in accordance with the provisions of Section 46 (2) of the Coal Industry Nationalization Act, 1946.

§ LORD BEVERIDGE
I thank the noble Lord for his full answer. May I ask a further question of which I have given him notice? What effect is the agreement anticipated to have on the price of coal, as well as upon the other conditions which, I imagine, will have to be published?

§ LORD AMMON
The National Coal Board have undertaken for the time being not to raise the price of coal without consulting the Minister of Fuel and Power, and so far they have made no proposals to him for increasing prices in consequence of the five-day week. This is not to say that an approach will not be made. If all the coal which is at present produced on a Saturday morning were lost, costs would go up. Everything depends on how soon and how much output per man-year improves.

§ VISCOUNT SWINTON
My Lords, may I ask the Minister this supplementary question? He will no doubt have seen in the newspapers this morning, as I have seen, a report from the South Wales Miners' Federation, estimating that, at the best, 187,000 tons a week will be lost. Have not the Coal Board, who are charged with this matter, made any estimate of what the effect is likely to be on the cost and price?

§ LORD AMMON
That, surely, is a matter that is covered by my answer, in so far as the Government will have to take all these considerations into account and they have not yet come to a final decision.

§ VISCOUNT SWINTON
That does not in the least improve what he has said; that if the Coal Board do something the Minister will take something into account. What I am asking, and it is a very simple question, is: Before arriving at this decision have not the Coal Board made any estimate at all of what is to be the effect on output and prices?

§ LORD AMMON
I am not in a position to answer any hypothetical question about what the Coal Board may have done. One may conclude that they have taken everything into consideration.