HC Deb 03 February 1931 vol 247 c1636W
Mr. POTTS

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the inequality as between employers and workmen in the mining industry entailed by Section 13 (4) of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, whereby colliery managers are enabled to apply to a Court of Summary Jurisdiction for the removal of any check weigher appointed by ballot of the workmen to check the weighing of coal on their behalf, he will undertake to introduce legislation to amend this Section, avoiding proceedings against a check weighman except through the Home Secretary, to whom complaints shall be laid, and to provide that where proceedings are undertaken under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts and a Court decides that an offence of the Act has been committed by a check weigher the specified penalties under Section 101 (1) and (3) and Section 102 (5) shall apply to check weighers in the same way as they apply under the said Sections to colliery managers for contravening the Coal Mines Regulation Act?

Mr. SHINWELL

I am not quite clear what alterations in the law my hon. Friend wishes to make, but, in any case, I am afraid that there is no possibility of such legislation at present. If my hon. Friend would like to discuss the matter, I shall be pleased to do so at any time.