§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) in view of the abandonment by the National Coal Board of the coal industry's conciliation scheme as enacted in section 46 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, what steps he is taking to ensure good working relations on safety, health and welfare of persons in the coal industry between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers;
(2) whether the National Coal Board has deposited any copies of new agreements with his Department as replacements for the termination by the National Coal Board of the coal industry conciliation scheme as enacted by Parliament in the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946;
(3) whether he was consulted by the National Coal Board about its unilateral termination of its involvement in the coal industry conciliation scheme which has statutory authority from his Department under section 46 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.
§ Mr. David HuntSection 46 of the 1946 Act places a duty on the NCB to consult organisations appearing to it to represent substantial proportions of the persons in its employment. I am satisfied that the board is complying with that duty.