§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed that any miners actually out of employment at the time of the recent settlement, owing to the closing down of the pits wherein they worked, shall secure re-employment as the result of any financial assistance on the part of the Government to the mining industry; and, if so, whether the sums which otherwise would have been paid to these men in the shape of unemployment benefit will be paid by the Fund to the Treasury to form part of such Government aid to the industry in general?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper issued to-day which deals with this point. As regards the last part of the question, there is no power to make any such payment as is suggested from the Unemployment Fund.
§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of raising the money needed for the coal trade subsidy by a tax the yield of which should be earmarked for the purpose, so that those who have to pay it may realise the burden these subsidies throw on other industries?