§ 2. Mr. Higgsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the number of persons employed throughout the country in connection with the proposed acquisition of mineral royalties, and that persons of military age engaged on such work are specially exempted from military service; and whether he will consider the 3 desirability of postponing any further action under the Coal Mines Act, 1938, until after the war?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Mr. David Grenfell)Of the staff of the 10 valuation boards, numbering 66 in all, none is specially exempted from military service on account of the valuation, and I am not aware that persons in private employment have been treated any more favourably. The question of postponing the operation of the Coal Act, 1938, has been reviewed from time to time during the war, but after full consideration it has been decided in the negative.
§ Mr. HiggsIs the Minister not aware that there are 20 solicitors engaged in this operation, and are they not exempt because of their particular employment? In what way does he consider that this operation is forwarding the war effort?
§ Mr. GrenfellAs far as I know, not a single member of the staff has been exempted for valuation work.
§ Mr. GrenfellI do not know what persons my hon. Friend has in mind, but I am speaking of the various grades of people employed on valuation—66 in all —and not one has been exempted for this special work.
§ Mr. LawsonIs it not in the best interests of the organisation of the coal trade that this work should be pushed on?
§ Mr. GrenfellIt has been so decided.