Major BARNESasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the Resolution recently passed by the Tynemouth Union to the effect that, their attention having been called to the fact that the lowest paid grade of colliery employé has been cut to a point below subsistence level, they desire to press earnestly upon the Government the urgent need that some provision should be made to increase the wages of the men in question, and that, if necessary, this should be 1814W done by Government grant as an alternative preferable to the re-establishment of any system of subsidising wages from the Poor Law; if he is aware that similar cases have been brought before the notice of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Union; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. I have seen the Resolution to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The rate of wages of the men in question is settled by the Joint District Wages Board for the coal mining industry in the district in accordance with the national settlement of last July, and it is not possible for the Government to vary these arrangements or to make any grant in augmentation of their wages. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that it is only in very exceptional cases that guardians would grant relief to men who are in employment or that such action would be countenanced by his Department.