asked the Secretary for Mines how long he estimates that the depression in the mining industry will continue; and whether he has any suggestion to make with regard to regulating the supply of new labour, especially boy labour, going into the industry so long as the depression continued?

I regret that I see no immediate prospect of an improvement in the coal trade, but I do not think that Government regulation of the labour supply would help the situation.

Are the Government making any effort to transfer the unemployed miners from the depressed districts to new areas in Nottingham and South Derbyshire? Is there any effort on the part of the Government to find work for unemployed miners in this way?

Yes. I think a good many efforts have been made but, as the Noble Lord knows, the difficulty is the housing question. As soon as the housing question is less acute more could be done.

Has not the only effort of the Government been made so that they can cut off the unemployment benefit from the miners?

No, Sir. I should be very sorry if the hon. Member thought that.