Mr. T.KENNEDYasked the Minister of Labour the number of safety men now at work in the Fifeshire coalfield; 3029W whether the number employed has been reduced during the progress of the stoppage; if so, whether the safety men who have thus become unemployed are receiving unemployment benefit; and if members of the Colliery Firemen and Shotfiring Association who are unemployed, and who are not directly interested in the stoppage, are receiving benefit?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI understand that the number of firemen employed underground before the stoppage in Fifeshire was 750; the number at present is 333, but these are not all employed full-time. The answer to the third and fourth parts of the question is in the negative. Benefit has been disallowed by the Umpire in similar cases from other districts, but an appeal may be made to the Court of Referees and the Umpire on behalf of the Fifeshire men by the Colliery Firemen's and Shotfirers' Association.