asked the Minister of Labour if he will now state the result of the negotiations between the National Coal Board and the British Association of Colliery Officials and Staffs on the subject of recognition for negotiating purposes.

No, Sir. This is a matter entirely for the parties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these negotiations have been dragging on for months, and that a member of the Coal Board, Mr. Ebby Edwards, told the Association that the National Union of Mineworkers would not allow the Board to grant recognition to the Association? Is not conduct of that sort, affecting a public corporation, within the responsibility of the right hon. Gentleman's Ministry?

No, Sir. The employers' and employees' representatives have their negotiations. If there is any difficulty, and they would like to have our assistance, the request must come from them. We are keeping an eye on the matter, and as soon as we are asked by either of the parties to intervene, we shall do all we can to help them. It would be wrong for the Government to interfere in any dispute if the interference was not requested by either of the parties.

Major Lloyd:

asked the Minister of Labour what are the reasons why the National Coal Board have so far refused to recognise any union except the National Union of Mineworkers.

This is entirely a matter for the National Coal Board, but I am informed that it is not the case that the National Union of Mineworkers is the only one which has been recognised.

Major Lloyd:

While welcoming the last part of the right hon. Gentleman's statement, may I ask him whether he is aware of the fact that many thousands of miners are becoming increasingly unhappy about the National Union of Mineworkers because of the growing control of it by Communism, and would like to be free to join another?

That has nothing to do with the Question on the Order Paper. The Question I was asked was whether this was the only union. My answer is that it is not the only union.