§ Mr. AYLESasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the present 235W position of the negotiations with regard to the dispute between the miners' organisations and the mine owners of the Bristol, Kent and other coalfields in respect of the alleged violation of the national agreement?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI have had no part in the negotiations which have taken place in this matter. I am informed that the question has now been settled in Somerset, but is still outstanding in Kent, Bristol and Forest of Dean, and that the meeting held between the Mining Association and Miners' Federation on the 3rd July failed to find a way out of the difficulty. I understand that it was stated definitely on behalf of the Mining Association that they expected every colliery that continued to work to observe the terms of the national agreement.