§ Sir R. Clarryasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state, in the interests of all classes of coal consumers, the general procedure which is to be followed by committees of investigation, commencing with the first step to be taken by a potential complainant and particularly the disclosure and recording of information during the proceedings; how far such information is available to the public; and what minimum essential costs are involved by a complainant both to a committee of investigation and to a possible consequent appeal?
§ Captain CrookshankThe procedure of the committees of investigation is regulated by the Coal Mines (Committees of Investigation) Directions, 1930, made under Section 5 (3) of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. In general, a complainant is required in the first instance to put before the committee, in writing, the act or omission of persons having functions under the scheme which he alleges to be unfair, inequitable or contrary to the public interest. Forms may be obtained from the secretary to the committees (the offices for all committees, except that for Kent (which is at Cromwell House, Dean Stanley Street, S.W.1), are at 55, Queen Street, Sheffield) indicating the nature of the information generally required. The committee then asks the executive board of colliery owners concerned to furnish its observations on the complaint and, as far as possible, those observations are passed on to the complainant. My hon. Friend will be aware of the amendment of Section 8 of the 1930 Act proposed by the Seventh Schedule of the Coal Bill, to permit of a wider disclosure than at present of the executive board's reply.
Shorthand notes are taken of the examination of witnesses on behalf of complainants and respondents, but not of the deliberations of the committees. These notes are circulated to the parties 945W to the complaint. In some cases, as they involve disclosure of information regarding individual businesses, they are circulated under a seal of confidence. When a committee takes evidence in private, the shorthand note is obviously confidential, but in respect of public proceedings, the parties to the complaint will of course get copies of the note to use as publicly as they like. I do not think that it would be worth while putting copies of the shorthand notes of public proceedings on sale, but I have no doubt that persons interested, other than the parties immediately concerned, could, on application to the particular committee, arrange to receive copies of such notes on payment of the cost thereof. It is impossible to indicate what are the minimum essential costs involved in making a complaint, or in lodging a possible consequent appeal. There are no fees payable, and the question of professional representation is one for the complainant to decide for himself.