§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Power if he will seek the views of the National Union of Mineworkers, who are concerned about the matter, with a view to issuing a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board to halt the practice of allowing outside contractors into the coal mines to do work such as painting, rail-laying for 155W wagons, driving underground drifts and the installation of machinery; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeytonNo. I do not think a general direction would be appropriate. It is open to the National Union of Mineworkers to make its views known to the Board through the established machinery within the industry.