26 NOVEMBER 1937, Page 3

The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes : Let

us be thankful for the Coal Bill. Many weary months have been spent in passing comparatively non-controversial legislation. Even the most intransigent Opposition back-benchers have found indignation hard to pump up. Being a Council of State is all very well, but it is not exciting. Coal, however, is inseparable from controversy, and the two-day debate on the Second Reading was the liveliest discussion on a domestic issue that has taken place this year. The miners' Members, when speaking on royalties, can always be relied upon to generate a certain amount of warmth, while the Tory Old Guard still get hot under the collar when they contemplate so considerable an extension of the powers and responsi- bilities of the State.

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