§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the Usworth Colliery, County Durham, has been idle for six months owing to a dispute between the owners and the men; whether his Department has been approached with a view to bringing the dispute to an end; and what he proposes to do in the matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware generally of the circumstances at Usworth Colliery and that work has been suspended for some months owing to the fact that the terms of employment offered by the owners are not acceptable to the men. I have been asked by the Miners' Federation to intervene, but after making inquiry into the facts I was obliged to inform them that I regretted that I did not see my way to intervene effectively.