asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will hand over a coalmine to Polish workers and pay them by results.

By the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, Parliament has entrusted the responsibility for operating the coal mines to the National Coal Board, and I have no power to hand over a coal mine to Polish nationals, or to anybody else.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is not the opinion of the National Coal Board that matters, but that it is coal we want? Will he consult with the T.U.C. and let this House know what are the T.U.C.'s orders?

Would my right hon. Friend consider handing over a coalmine to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) and pay him by results?

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's original reply, has he no powers to issue directions to the Coal Board to do anything that he regards as being in the national interest?

Mr. Shin well:

Certainly I have power to issue directions to the National Coal Board, and when I do it will be on a matter where I think the Coal Board can do something really effective in the national interest.

Will the Minister take careful note of the anti-British attitude of the Tories as exemplified by the remarks which we have just heard from the benches opposite?

Would the right hon. Gentleman look again at his original answer, because clearly in the light of his answer to my supplementary question, it is neither full nor correct?

If it were thought desirable to carry out the proposal suggested by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers), then, obviously, I would exercise my powers of direction, but the proposal he has made is quite useless.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman well aware of the marvellous results produced by Polish miners in Silesia, Westphalia and Lenz, where, as miners, they were nulli secundi?

It is completely erroneous to suppose that we can place thousands of Poles in the mines and make them productive. First of all, we have to ensure that there are trained Polish miners; secondly, where they are untrained, that we can train them; and, thirdly, that we can absorb them into the pits usefully and effectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what date in the early part of 1946 his Department first entered into negotiations with the National Union of Mine Workers regarding the employment of Polish workers in British mines.

The consultations commenced on 7th June, 1946.

Does the Minister now realise that the accusation of inaccuracy made the other day in answer to a question of mine is not now justified?

I am not aware of any inaccuracy.

The right hon. Gentleman is full of them.