As the Minister has given two reasons for which Sir Eric Young did not resign, and as the Press has stated that he did not resign because of ill-health or the present Crisis in Coal Production, will he ask, for the benefit of everyone, that Sir Eric Young should authorise him to give the real reasons, which would do much to allay present concern?

Yes, Sir, but I think the House appreciates the acute Crisis in Coal Production.

So why do we argue that the Crisis of Coal Production should not have reached the degree that it has in the present atmosphere of dramatic urgency?