asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now able to make a statement as to the arrangements he intends making for demobilisation.

No, Sir. Not at present.

Could the hon. Gentleman say when it would be appropriate to repeat this Question.

I am afraid not. I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements the Government are making as part of their post-war resettlement plans for the industrial training of men and women demobilised from the Services or from war work.

The Government have given consideration to this matter and have devised plans for providing training after the war for those whose careers have been interrupted by war service. I will, if I may, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed Statement of the Government's proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is satisfied that adequate preparations have been made respecting the possibility of a recurrence of grave food shortage and famine; whether any official inquiry has been made respecting both a sufficient production of food and co-ordinated planning of distribution; and whether he could give an estimate respectively of the land likely to be under cultivation for food crops during the next two years and the gross amount of rice, millet, wheat, rye and other food crops aimed at during that period.

As the reply is necessarily very long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL. REPORT.

Could we have some assurance that the Minister is satisfied that adequate preparations for the future are being made, in view of the apprehension existing in some quarters.

The hon. Member will find that the statement I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT covers that and any other possible supplementary questions that he might ask.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is intended to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations contained in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Justices' Clerks; and, if so, when.

Some of the recommendations in this report, which has only just been presented, can be carried into effect without legislation and these will be brought to the notice of the justices. The main recommendations require legislation, and on this I am not in a position to make any statement, but I can assure my hon. Friend that I recognise the importance of these recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what daily wages are paid to internees in the Isle of Man by farmers for whom they work.

The farmers pay in respect of internees who have volunteered to work on their farms a minimum of is a day, as well as bearing the cost of transport and insurance. In addition, they provide meals and make such extra payment by way of gratuity as may be arranged in each case.

May I ask if that is not exactly the same rate of payment as that paid to Italian prisoners of war? Under what authority does the Minister prevent these internees receiving the proper agricultural wages for the job.

I do not know what the payment to Italian prisoners of war is, but it is the case that these are internees and the circumstances in their case are bound to be exceptional. There are various circumstances in connection with the matter that are exceptional, such as the hours worked and the transport that has to be provided. They are fed and there are various other circumstances which make it impossible to deal with this on the ordinary industrial basis. I am not sure that it would be desirable, either, to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the delay in answering two registered letters from the residents of St. Mary Cray, Kent, dated 22nd February, 1944, and 17th March, 1944, signed by Mr. E. Hackett Jones and others, and containing a petition with approximately 2,500 names.

When the petition was received the regional commissioners were already investigating the possibility of modifying the system of duties to which the petitioners refer. These modifications could not, however, be introduced until experiments under actual raiding conditions had been carried out, and the scheme for the region as a whole had been approved and promulgated. I regret to learn that while investigations were taking place certain members of the Services refused to carry out the duties assigned to them. Although the petitioners have not received a formal reply to their representations, the members of the Services have been informed of the changes in their duties and I hope that this reply will dispose of the matter.

While realising the pressure on Government Departments just now, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he proposes to take any disciplinary action against the official responsible for this lack of courtesy; and does he not think that these public-spirited people might at least have received an acknowledgment.

I understood that this was being dealt with by the regional commissioners. I admit that there was some delay in my Department, for which I am sorry, but we are working under great pressure, and I think that disciplinary action would be making very heavy weather of it.

Does not "great pressure" in Government Departments mean that five people are doing a job where, in private life, one would be engaged.

No, Sir, that is a gross libel on Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered a letter sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife regarding the regularising of discipline in the police force; and what statement has he to make on the matter.

The hon. Member's letter only reached me yesterday. I am inquiring into the points which he raises and I will send him a reply as soon as possible.

Is the Minister not aware of the fact that a chief constable, found guilty of the unlawful use of petrol and fined, still keeps his job, whereas an ordinary policeman, charged with unlawful possession of petrol, but not found guilty, nevertheless loses his job? Should not something be done to regularise a position like that.

This letter came only yesterday, and I am afraid I have not had time to examine it. Therefore, I must say that I am not fully aware of the facts yet, but I will look into it.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman refuse a grant to a watch committee which dismisses a chief constable while he does nothing about another watch committee which dismisses an ordinary policeman.

It is no good my hon. Friend getting cross with me for not being able to answer a question on a letter which I have not read and which only came yesterday.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any further statement to make about steps which can be taken to prevent abuse of the provisions of the Sunday Observance Act by common informers.

As I indicated in reply to Questions on 20th January, I should be very glad to get rid of all the antiquated provisions of the law which enable a common informer to sue for penalties: but any such general overhauling of ancient statutes cannot be undertaken at the present time. I have, however, been in consultation with the Lord Chancellor about cases in which the common informer arranges with the offender to compound the penalty. Under an Act of Elizabeth such an arrangement requires the consent of the Court, and, in the view of the Lord Chancellor and myself, applications for such consent ought to be made in open court so that there may be public knowledge of any such proceedings. I am glad to be able to announce that rules of the Supreme Court have now been made to this effect.

While expressing my appreciation of that fact, may I ask the Home Secretary how many such cases are within his knowledge.

The cases within my knowledge are very few but I am bound to say that it is thoroughly undesirable that they should have been dealt with privately, and I think it will have a healthy effect if we cause this to be dealt with publicly.

Can the Home Secretary say whether this will affect the Sunday opening of theatres beneficially.

I should not think so for a moment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in conjunction with the Leader of the House, consider again the desirability of giving the House an opportunity of registering its opinion on this particular subject, and also its opinion on the parallel subject of the legalising of Sunday entertainments.

I am afraid that I cannot add to the statement I made in the Adjournment Debate initiated by my hon. Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend consider, along with that statement, that he might well make it clear that, if artists want to entertain troops on a Sunday in a proper manner, no common informer can do any harm or interfere with such shows.

I cannot make that statement because it would not be true.

It is the truth.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has given consideration to the hardship involved in the difference of treatment by local education authorities of their power to make up the payment of teachers serving in the forces to an amount equivalent to their previous salaries; and whether he has taken or will take steps to induce those local education authorities who make no such payment, or only payments on a smaller scale, to adopt the same standards as the principal authorities.

The position of teachers in this matter is governed by the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, which empowers local authorities to make up the civil remuneration of their employees who are engaged on war service. Parliament has left this matter to the discretion of the local authorities concerned, and I could not undertake to secure uniformity of practice throughout the country.

Although the right hon. Gentleman is not able to produce power in the matter can he not use his influence and good offices with these local authorities that fail to come up to the standard set by so many authorities in this respect.

I do not think that I can add to my reply.

Change the composition of those local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the increasing difficulty of securing qualified teachers for elementary and secondary schools; and whether, in view of the seriousness of the situation in the immediate future, he will take steps to obtain the immediate release of teachers who are of low medical category now serving in His Majesty's Forces.

Yes, Sir. But any general release of teachers and other men of low medical category would mean that men fit for active service would have to be diverted to essential non-combatant duties which would not be in the national interest at the present stage of the war. Already there is in operation an arrangement whereby my Department can apply for the release from the Forces of individual teachers, within the age limits qualifying for deferment, who are urgently needed for vacant posts in schools.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman further consult the Minister of Labour or the various Services to see whether those who are of low medical category and are doing relatively unimportant work cannot be transferred to schools.

As the hon. Member will see from the latter part of my answer, we do our best in this matter, and I can assure him that I am a constant nuisance to my colleagues.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the position is becoming grave.

Yes, Sir, I know.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in HANSARD a list of military, civilian, Allied or other officials who are entitled to examine a civilian's identity card; and the circumstances in which they may demand to do So.

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, as my hon. Friend desires, a statement of the particulars asked for in the Question.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the number of categories is now much wider than it was when identity cards were first introduced.

I am afraid that I do not know how many categories there were, but if my hon. Friend will look at the full answer which I shall circulate, he will be able to decide that for himself.

asked the Minister of Health when the promised White Paper on Water will be available to Members.

It is intended that the White Paper shall be available in the Vote Office on the First Sitting Day after the Recess.

While thanking the Minister for his reply, can he give any indication as to whether we are to have a day to discuss it in the House.

That is a matter for the Leader of the House.

Can the Minister say whether the White Paper will be circulated to Members of the House before that date.

No, Sir.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend recognise that we are on the eve of the gravest water shortage in our history as far as rural districts are concerned, and will he urge in the proper quarter the desirability for a Debate so that we can tell him something about it.

I very much hope that there will be an opportunity for a Debate.

Do the Government comprehend that it is all-important.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning, in connection with the contract by the Admiralty to sell the camp built on the Welsh coast to a private firm, whether, at the appropriate time, it will be open to his Department and the local planning authorities to reconsider whether this site shall be used for the purposes of a holiday camp.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the negotiations with the Free French Committee in deciding the Metropolitan French exchange rate, he will ensure that nothing is done that might disturb the unity of the French Empire and that measures will be taken to prevent an unduly high exchange rate which would favour the purchasing power of Allied troops as against the civil population.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the proposal to fix the exchange rate of the franc in Metropolitan France by our occupation authorities at 300 to the £; whether he is satisfied, in the light of the Italian experience, that such a rate of exchange will assist the establishment of good relations between the occupation authorities and our French Allies or the achievement of reasonably stable conditions; and whether, before any arbitrary decision is made on this question, steps will be taken to reach agreement with the French Committee of National Liberation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the concern that a too low exchange value will be fixed for the French franc when that country, or part of it, is occupied by Allied troops, he can now make a definite statement about our intentions in this matter.

From the nature of the case the rate cannot be announced beforehand, nor can I make any statement which might be interpreted as foreshadowing the decision which in due course will have to be taken. I can, however, say that the views of the French Committee of National Liberation on this matter will be fully taken into account and all relevant factors will, no doubt, be considered.

In view of what happened in Italy, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that the exchange rate is not fixed at too high a level which will miliate against the conditions of the civilian population in France? May I ask quite bluntly whether, in consultation over this matter, he will consider thoroughly and adequately the opinion of the French Committee of National Liberation instead of the opinion expressed by the United States Government.

I have said quite definitely that full account will be taken of the views of the French Committee of National Liberation, and I can add that the object will be to fix the rate, as far as this country is concerned, at a level which has a reasonable chance of being maintained, neither too high nor too low.

Is the Chancellor aware that statements have already been circulated in the Press to the effect that the rate has already been fixed at 300 to the pound? Does he not consider that such statements render a grave disservice to the cause of the United Nations.

I quite agree that such statements are greatly to be deprecated and there is, in fact, no foundation for any rumour to the effect that the rate has been fixed.

Will particular regard be paid to the economic, social and political effects, in view of what happened in Syria and North Africa and Italy as the result of the exchange rates which were fixed, and the other measures which were taken.

Certainly, Sir.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is somewhat premature for this matter to be discussed.

It may not be premature for the matter to be discussed but it certainly is quite premature, unauthorised, and mischievous to have rumours, such as have been in circulation, without ally foundation.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that in this, as in other matters, the United States and the British Government should march together.

That is certainly our view.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that we are not responsible for those rumours which have been circulated elsewhere.

The "Daily Worker" is not responsible.

No, it is irresponsible.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount in deposit at the Post Office Savings Bank; and the aggregate number of depositors as at 1st April, 1944.

At the 25th of March, 1944 (the latest date for which figures can be given) the number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank was approximately 17,600,000, and the amount in deposit was £1,310,280,000 in round figures.

Whilst welcoming that very satisfactory statement of affairs, would my hon. Friend consider giving more publicity to the fact that although there is a limit to the annual amount that can be deposited there is no limit at all to the total of the aggregate deposit.

I will consider that, Sir.

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether the frequency of withdrawals has increased.

Not without notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many buildings or establishments built by Government. Departments for war purposes have been sold for use after the war; to what extent these transactions are subject to Treasury approval; and if he will circulate a list of the buildings disposed of together with the cost of erection and the price at which they have been sold.

There are very few cases where buildings or establishments built by Government Departments for war purposes have been sold for use after the war. I am arranging for a list of such cases to be compiled and I will communicate further with the hon. Member when it is available. Any cases of importance would require prior Treasury approval. There are, however, many cases in the industrial field where extensions of contractors' capacity have been financed and are owned by the Government, in respect of which a right of preemption has been accorded to the contractor for purchase of the extension if and when the Government decides to dispose of it. I assume that the hon. Member has not such cases in mind.

Is it proposed to circulate the list? The right hon. Gentleman said he would communicate with my hon. Friend, but that will not give us any information. Is it proposed to circulate the list in the OFFICIAL REPORT, or in some other way.

I should like to have a look at the list, but my desire would be to make it available to all hon. Members interested.

Was not an agreement reached through the usual channels more than a year ago, that war factories would not be disposed of by the State to private concerns, without the consent of the House.

My recollection does not carry me to that point, but I am sure that if there is such an agreement, it will be adhered to.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what are the conditions as regards pay, bonus and leave that a combatant or non-combatant African enlisted in Swaziland, Bechuanaland or Basutoland receives on discharge from the Forces; and whether any special steps are being taken for his suitable reemployment in civil life and, in the case of disabled men, for their physical rehabilitation.

Natives from these territories are serving in the African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps. On discharge they are entitled to the usual 14 days' leave and are allowed to keep Army clothing. Sums accumulated under the compulsory deferred pay system become available on discharge. The question of rehabilitation is being considered on the lines explained by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in his reply to the hon. Member on 15th March.

Is the period of leave given on full pay and allowances? May I have an answer to that question.

I should want notice of that question.

If it is not, it is not leave at all.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now give further consideration to inducing the gas and electricity companies to utilise the services of one and the same man for reading the gas and electric meters.

The question of using the same staff to read both gas and electricity meters was fully considered in consultation with representatives of both industries in 1942, when the conclusion was reached that the difficulties in the way of the introduction of a general scheme of this kind were prohibitive. This question has been considered again, but I can find no grounds for a departure from that conclusion. The problem is a good deal more difficult now than it was in 1942, because many more of the trained staff have now been called up and it is not easy to replace them.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many thousands of small shopkeepers have had to close their businesses owing to shortage of man-power? Why is it that the gas and electricity undertakings should be allowed to retain them? This is not a matter which should be passed over lightly.

This is a long way from being a question of small shopkeepers; it is a question of general shortage of manpower.

Is it not the case that where gas and electricity are under one local authority, one and the same person could do the work.

In some cases, where both are under the same authority, the scheme has been tried, and in others it has been tried and has had to be abandoned.

Why cannot you concentrate like other industries.

It can be done and it must be done.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if his attention has been called to the fact that the 10 per cent. cut last year in fuel has hit efficient firms more than inefficient firms as the margin of saving and reduction in efficient firms is less than in inefficient firms; and if he will take action in favour of the efficient firms.

This cut was imposed as an emergency measure to meet the growing fuel shortage. It would have been quite impracticable to vary its amount in accordance with the measure of fuel efficiency attained by individual firms, but I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend, however, that the arrangements for review of the cut, on appeal, provide a safeguard in individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether education officers in the R.A.F., unlike their opposite numbers in the other services, are still employed on a civilian basis, although holding commissions; and whether, as many of them are engaged on technical instruction which is indistinguishable from that given by officers employed on a service basis, he will now take steps to remove this anomalous status;

(2) whether the terms of service of education officers in the R.A.F. permit them to terminate their engagements on giving three months' notice; are they then free to take other appointments; what proportion of them is liable to service overseas; and if he is satisfied that, so long as the present civilian status continues, sufficient numbers of them will be available for service abroad when required.

Officers of the Royal Air Force Educational Service hold commissions in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve but they are not embodied and they retain their civilian status. In general, those engaged on technical instruction are employed in the teaching of scientific principles and their application to Service problems. The conditions of service provide that appointments are normally terminable by three months' notice on either side, though an officer who resigns is, of course, subject to any order or direction which may be in force or may be made under Defence Regulations. A large proportion of the Education Officers are liable for overseas service and arrangements will be made to ensure that a sufficient number will be available for overseas service as and when required. At this stage of the war, it would not, I think, be justifiable to make far-reaching changes in the status or organisation of this Service.

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman explain why the Royal Air Force is alone in this attitude towards education officers.

Because the Royal Air Force educational service is different from the educational services of either the Army or the Navy.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman refrain from following the example of the Army, in which practically every civilian non-combatant is at once thrown into uniform and very frequently plastered with red tabs?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies of what British colonial products there are likely to be shortages after the war; and what remedial action is being taken.

I have been asked to reply. As this Question covers such a very wide range of subjects, my right hon. and gallant Friend does not feel that it lends itself to treatment by Question and answer. But if my hon. Friend will let him know what particular Colonial products he has in mind, my right hon. and gallant Friend will be glad to furnish the information required.

asked the Prime Minister if he will move to appoint a Select Committee that shall have authority to send for persons and papers, to inquire into the future of the Parliamentary machinery and consider how it should best be adapted to meet the post-war needs and, while preserving the rights of Private Members, function with speed and efficiency.

No, Sir.

But has my right hon. Friend seen the informative article which appeared yesterday in "The Times" and, if so, will he, before the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham and Worthing (Earl Winterton) raises this matter on the Adjournment, give it further sympathetic consideration.

No, Sir, I do not think I have anything to add to what I have said. Of course, I always endeavour to assimilate information from the public Press and to gather wisdom wherever I can, and the forthcoming Debate on the Adjournment, although a short one, may throw new light on the difficulties.

Does my right hon. Friend always consider "The Times" to be a well informed newspaper.

It is far from my duty to give out bouquets or the reverse to the newspapers.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider recognising in some suitable way the service rendered during the war by the members of the Voluntary Car Service.

No, Sir; but they have done very good work.

asked the Prime Minister the terms of reference and the names of the members of the inter-Departmental Committee which has been set up under the chairmanship of the Minister without Portfolio to examine what measures should be taken for the rehabilitation of the South-east coast towns.

Various measures taken from 1940 onwards to prepare against the danger of invasion place the post-war rehabilitation of some of the coast towns in the South-east of England on a special basis. The Minister without Portfolio has undertaken to keep their problems under review and to collate them with the Government's reconstruction programme. He will be assisted, as may be necessary, by officials from the various Departments concerned. This arrangement would lose in effectiveness if there were formal terms of reference or a committee with fixed membership. The security aspect has also to be considered.

Is it not a fact that some Southern and Eastern towns such as Southampton, as well as South-Eastern towns, have suffered very considerably under the same conditions? Will not these also be considered.

Where these particular conditions have prevailed, consequent on the proximity to the sea of these towns, and the danger of invasion, the matters will be examined specially by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister without Portfolio.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now arrange for the responsibility for discipline in the coal industry, which is divided between the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Fuel and Power, to be entrusted fully to one Ministry or the other.

No, Sir.

But do not the facts prove that new methods of securing discipline are long overdue.

I do not think it is really very helpful to embark upon That now. I do not think you could have more careful and resolute attention being paid to the matter, than that which is now forthcoming from the Ministers in charge. The influence of the great trade unions is one of the utmost consequence in all matters of industrial peace. I really should deprecate trying to give piecemeal answers.

While quite agreeing with what my right hon. Friend has said, is it not a fact that the Minister of Fuel and Power is responsible for investigation and recommendation and that the Minis- ter of Labour is responsible for taking action upon such recommendations? Is not this procedure unnecessarily cumbrous and dilatory.

I think it is the most convenient that you could possibly have. As a matter of fact, these two Ministers are almost constantly together in this matter.

Does not the Prime Minister think that when men are in a mood such as they are in now the best way is to get them together, talk to them and persuade them.

Is it not a fact that no nation has ever got so far into a war as we have, with the help of the trade unions in this country, so successfully.

I consider their record is a very fine one, and I earnestly hope it is not going to be upset.

asked the Secretary of State for War the basis on which sums as gratuities, as distinct from disability pensions, are paid to officers who leave the Armed Forces on grounds of medical unfitness.

In general, no gratuities are paid to officers who leave the Armed Forces on grounds of medical unfitness. The extension to such officers of any gratuity payable to officers on demobilisation is one of the many questions connected with the financial provision to be made at the time of demobilisation, but, as the Prime Minister said on Tuesday last, the present is not considered a timely occasion to discuss such plans.

Is it not a fact that during the last war an officer leaving the Services on grounds of medical unfitness was given a gratuity which bore a reasonable comparison with the time of his service? In view of the difference that now exists, and that no gratuity is being paid, is not this a great hardship to those concerned.

It is quite true that under the 1914 Pay Warrant provision was made for the payment of gratuities in the circumstances referred to in the Question but the position to-day is governed by the 1940 Pay Warrant, which contains no provision for the payment of gratuities in these circumstances.

Would the Financial Secretary consider asking the Army Council to alter this position.

I would like with the permission of the House to make a statement on the situation in the Yorkshire mine dispute. Before, however, I describe the position which exists to-day, it is, I think, of importance that hon. Members should be in possession of the history of the stoppage. As the House is aware two awards dealing with minimum wages have been made since 1942, the first by the Board of Investigation presided over by Lord Greene, and the second by the National Reference Tribunal for the Coalmining Industry presided over by Lord Porter. Both these awards fixed minimum wages for mineworkers, and it was provided that the minimum wage should include the value of allowances settled in accordance with the practice prevailing in each district and, where necessary, averaged on a weekly basis. On 31st August, 1942, Lord Greene ruled that the actual value of any allowances received by an individual worker must be added to his cash wage for the purpose of determining whether he is entitled to any, and what, additional cash payment to bring his wage up to the minimum applicable in his case.

In Yorkshire on 26th January, 1943, that is, over a year ago, the two sides of the industry agreed the value of allowances for home coal for the purposes of the Greene minimum wage at 3s. 6d. per week per man, the allowances to apply to all underground and surface workers of 21 years of age and over. Because of the comparatively high wage level, however, few men in Yorkshire were affected when the minimum set by Lord Greene was in operation; but a greater number benefited when Lord Porter's tribunal made its award, and when payments under that award came to be made, trouble arose at certain collieries because of the home coal allowance. I had no knowledge of the Yorkshire district agreement on home coal about which I was neither consulted nor informed. Indeed, there was no duty on either side of the industry to do so. I obtained a copy of the agreement on 24th March, and on an examination of its contents it appeared to me to be inequitable, if not indeed illegal, to take into account the coal allowance in the case of men who were not, in fact, receiving the coal. After I had taken further advice which confirmed this view, my officials informed both sides of the industry on 25th March, 1944,that the agreement was not in accordance with the award. They concurred in that view and agreed at once to rectify the agreement by providing that it should apply only to those workmen in receipt of home coal. The two sides subsequently agreed to reduce the value of the allowance.

Strike action in time of war cannot be justified and indeed after 27th March there was in my judgment—and that of the men's own leaders—no further ground for complaint. Nevertheless last week the strike spread rapidly and from the reports I had it was clear that, while the county and local branch leaders were anxious to secure a return to work, the bulk of the workmen were completely out of hand and refused to accept the advice of their own leaders and, contrary to the terms of the award, pressed for the complete abandonment of home coal allowances in the make-up of the minimum wage. Hon. Members sitting for mining districts in Yorkshire addressed many meetings and I am grateful to them for the assistance they gave. I think they will confirm the account I have given. The House will be glad to learn that the position has improved this week. About 60 per cent. of the pits are at work this morning.

The effect of this strike on the war effort was bound to be serious. We have lost over 1,000,000 tons of a quality of coal which is essential to many vital factories; coke ovens, gasworks and railways for instance depend largely upon Yorkshire coal. The stoppage has, of course, occurred at the end of the winter when stocks are at their lowest. Drastic steps have therefore had to be taken to maintain essential services, and, in collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Production, I have had to impose cuts upon industrial users of gas and electricity of 25 per cent. and 10 per cent. respectively. All necessary fuel supplies, however, are being sent to vital factories on prepared lists. The movement of opencast coal has been increased by 80,000 tons per week; and the export of coal to neutral countries has been stopped. Mined coal has been diverted on a very large scale, from district to district, and from less essential to more vital consumers. Coking coal has been diverted from the Durham ovens but this can do little more than enable the ovens in Yorkshire to be kept warm. So far, I am glad to say, it has been possible to keep nearly all gasworks in operation, but the position of many is now precarious.

This and other recent stoppages have laid bare some fundamental issues of industrial relations within the industry to which I am bound to refer. The mineworkers have long sought a national minimum weekly wage and by the Porter Award have now achieved this aim on a generous level. A minimum wage on a national basis and particularly on its present scale could not by its very nature fail to produce varying effects on districts and individuals. It is a matter of the gravest concern that the inevitable accompaniments of this national minimum weekly wage award should have been made the occasion for friction, strife, and the loss of production by strikes and "ca'canny" in different districts.

The Government share to the full the apprehensions which have been expressed on all sides about the lack of discipline within the trade unions of this industry which has manifested itself particularly in the last few months. Without discipline on both sides of the industry collective bargaining cannot survive. In fact the whole fabric of proper industrial relations rests upon the honouring of agreements and their being carried out and interpreted in the spirit as well as the letter. The younger and less responsible men too frequently exert an undue influence. A special responsibility therefore rests upon the maturer members of the Unions to assert their position and to support the executive authority of their Unions so that agreements entered into will be properly observed. The Government are fully alive to the vital part that collective bargaining has played and will still be called upon to play in the national effort. The Government, therefore, cannot stand aside and allow collective bargaining or the machinery of conciliation and arbitration in this fundamental industry to be weakened or destroyed. Where the Government have intervened they have done so only to help in the operation of industrial relationships, to maintain the effectiveness of agreements and awards or to assist in carrying them out.

May I say as a preliminary that we on this side of the House appreciate the very moderate language used by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman in his statement? In view of the great difficulties that many of us have when we address miners' meetings at this time and try to prevail on them to continue to work and in view of the fact that the circumstances created for us by the Government in the industry make that very difficult indeed, may I ask whether the Prime Minister does not think that the time has now come to review entirely the mining industry with a view to the establishment of the principle of public ownership? That would enable some of us to speak to the miners without being made to appear the spokesmen of profiteering in coal. Is it not a fact that many of us have, for the last two years, endeavoured to prevail upon the House and the Government to realise that a very serious situation was developing in the industry; and are not the Government and the House, therefore, mainly responsible for the difficulties now created in the industry.

I am sorry my hon. Friend should have tried to convey the impression that the Government have any responsibility for an award to which they are not even a party.

I did not say that.

My hon. Friend said that the Government had landed us in that position. If my hon. Friend wants material with which to go and speak to his district, I suggest that he should explain to the men what benefits they have received in the last two-and-a.-half years. I have gone round a good many coalfields and quite frankly my experience is that there is a great deal of ignorance about what progress has been made. I am prepared to take my share of the responsibility, because possibly we have not publicised it properly, but I cannot accept that the Government have any responsibility for an award to which they are not a party. The scheme which, afterwards, we did put forward for consideration has been accepted by the Miners' Federation.

In order that I may not be misrepresented, may I say that I did not state the Government were responsible for the award? What I did indicate was that the Government and the House are responsible for the scheme under which the industry is now managed, which is revealed by all the facts as having completely broken down. Will the Government, therefore, review the whole situation as regards that scheme.

While everybody is anxious that the miners should be dealt with fairly and, indeed, generously, and is anxious that the trade union machinery should be kept in operation, may I ask the Prime Minister to have it in view that, if it becomes necessary for the Government to take serious action, so as to prevent the war effort being impeded, he will have the whole House behind him.

In view of my right hon. and gallant Friend's statement that there has been growing indiscipline in the industry, will he not consider restoring to the managers, as requested by the National Association of Colliery Managers, the same power of discipline as that possessed by other industries working under Essential Work Orders.

May I ask the Minister, as one who, with many others, has had years of experience among the miners and has shared their life and understands them, to believe that the suggestion in the question of the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Colegate) is not one that will lead to the desirable discipline we all want in the mines.

My hon. Friend who asked that question has, I think, failed to realise that there are two sides to his proposal. If you allowed the one sanction which managements always had in peace-time, that is, dismissal, you would have to restore to the men the right of freedom of movement. I have discussed this matter with both sides, and I can assure my hon. Friend that both sides realise the difficulties and neither supports his proposal.

While I appreciate the great difficulties which have confronted the Minister and the Government over this coal trouble, may I ask my right hon. and gallant Friend. whether he appreciates that the Porter Award and what has emerged from it are now the subject of discussion among the miners and that there is a strong probability that the Award may be rejected—or I should say possibility? That has been suggested; at any rate, that is the assumption. There is a possibility that what has emerged from the award may be rejected. In these circumstances, will my right hon. and gallant Friend consider—because this seems to be the point of substance in all this trouble—whether the alleged anomalies, which the miners regard as real anomalies, which have emerged from the award can be speedily removed by the Government in order to settle this problem, even if it means further expenditure by the Government, though not an excessive expenditure.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the suggested agreement which I put forward as a proposal to the two sides of the industry, and which the national bodies accepted, is now being discussed in the various districts. I am 10th to believe that it will be rejected, because it is a very definite step forward. With regard to the anomalies to which my hon. Friend referred, the Government made it perfectly clear several weeks ago that they could not expect the consumer in this country to carry any further heavy burden, because the burden is already heavy and amounts to something like £80,000,000 a year extra. The agreement which I put forward does, in fact, deal with a good many of the anomalies, and I have not taken any steps here without the consent of both sides. Within the limits of no further heavy expenditure we have in our proposed agreement removed as many anomalies as I think it is possible to do.

May I put one thing to my right hon. and gallant Friend? The men are voting now upon these proposals which I gather they are getting from him. In the event of the proposals being rejected on particular points, do I understand the Minister will be prepared to receive representations from the men's union.

I hope that my hon. Friend will not press me on that, because I am to-day meeting the executive of the Miners' Federation.

Has this not been a continually developing crisis since the beginning of the war; and is it not the case that only the strong influence of the Scottish officials prevented similar troubles in many parts of Scotland? In view of this situation, would not the Minister accept the suggestion of the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. A. Bevan) and consider the question of Government control in the industry, during the war at any rate.

May I bring my hon. Friend back to what we were talking about? I made a statement and what he has said has nothing to do with the dispute in Yorkshire.

May I put it to my right hon. and gallant Friend and to the House that as consultations are going on, the matter might be dropped.

Hear, hear.