§ 6. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that young men employed on the surface at the Dawdon and Horden pits, in county Durham, are being forced to accept employment underground and that they have expressed a wish to join His Majesty's Forces in preference; and whether he can accede to their request?
§ Mr. BevinI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Burslem (Mr. MacLaren) on 18th March and the reply which my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power gave to the hon. Member for Hemsworth {Mr. G. Griffiths) on 12th May. The particular cases which my hon. Friend has sent to me are being investigated.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that this matter is creating considerable resentment in the area affected? Is it not possible to expedite a decision so that these men may not be forced underground but may have the opportunity of joining the Services and perhaps making room for other men who are capable of doing this work to be returned from the Forces?
§ Mr. BevinAs I have explained before, this matter is really in the hands of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and I act as agent in carrying out the order.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes my right, hon. Friend understand that I have considerable difficulty with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and is it not possible for him as Minister of Labour and member of the War Cabinet to bring pressure on the Minister of Fuel and Power to do the right thing?