§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Secretary for Mines whether it was upon his instructions that an official of the Mines Department visited Nottingham recently for the purpose of interviewing the agent of the Nottinghamshire and District 873W Miners' Industrial Union; what was the object of this interview; whether the official was authorised to make any proposals; and, if so, what was the nature of these proposals?
§ Mr. TURNERA member of my Department has visited Nottingham during recent weeks as a result of various disputes or complaints which have come to the notice of the Department from time to time and which obviously were not in the best interests of the coalfield as a whole. I had already had discussions with some mine-owners' representatives, and the purpose for which I sent this member of my staff to visit the county was to consult with the men's leaders and to ascertain whether there appeared to be any action which I could take which might help to avoid friction in the future. In the course of his visit he met the Executive Committee of the Nottinghamshire Miners' Association, and he had personal conversations with the agent of the Nottinghamshire Miners' Industrial Union. There was no question of any proposals being made or any commitments undertaken, either by my representative or by any of the persons with whom he discussed matters.