asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that a large number of pits in the Durham coalfield are working short time; that irregular employment is having a serious effect on the whole community; and what steps he is taking to deal with the situation?

As the hon. Member is aware, the short-time working in the Durham coalfield is due to transportation difficulties. With a view to alleviating the position, arrangements have been made for railing considerable quantities of coal from the North-Eastern District to the South of England, but unfortunately these arrangements have been seriously hampered by the exceptionally hard weather experienced recently.

Does the hon. Gentleman attribute the dislocation of the Durham coalfield entirely to the weather? Is he aware that there was considerable difficulty before this spell of bad weather occurred?

If the hon. Member will read my reply, he will see that when I refer to "transportation difficulties," it does not apply entirely to the railways, but as I told him, in order to help the position we have made arrangements to rail very considerable quantities to the South, and the weather has, of course, interfered a great deal.

May we have an assurance that no attempt is being made to divert trade from the East Coast to the West Coast?

Yes, Sir, I think I can give that assurance.

Will the hon. Gentleman also give an assurance that short-time work in other coalfields will be reduced to a minimum?

Yes, Sir.