§ 51. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Secretary of State for War, except in Glamorganshire, continues to call for the enlisting of miners for the New Armies, notwithstanding the Report of the Home Office Departmental Committee that a serious shortage of coal would be occasioned if the enlisting of miners did not cease; whether he has made any representation to the Secretary of State for War on the matter; and will he say what steps, if any, have been taken to organise trade with the view of preventing the enlistment of men who are essential for carrying on the general trade of the country and for supplying the Armies in the field with ammunition and equipment?
Mr. RUNCIMANAs regards the first part of the question, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War that he is not at present in a position to add anything to the answer given to the hon. Member for Devonport on the 14th June. Regarding the remainder of the question, I understand that the Minister of Munitions, in consultation with the Secretary of State for War, is arranging a system for the purpose indicated, and that he proposes shortly to make a statement on the subject.