§ 40. Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take steps to see that suitable employment is provided in the mining industry for partially-incapacitated miners, due to sickness or accident, with a view to assisting towards complete rehabilitation of such workmen and to reducing the wastage of man-power in the industry.
Major Lloyd GeorgeAll partially-incapacitated miners are interviewed to determine the type of work upon which they could be employed, and employers who have suitable work available are pressed, and if necessary directed, to engage such men in order to accelerate their complete rehabilitation. Work of a suitable kind is not, however, always available, and in this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 13th June to the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. R. J. Taylor).
§ Mr. FosterIs the Minister not aware that there is quite a large number of cases where an employee can secure his release from industry by application to the National Service Officer, and that they have no difficulty in that connection, so that there is a large drain of man-power from the industry by the release of these miners?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIf the hon. Member will bring to my notice cases of anything not in order, I will look into them. We all know, of course, that there has been a very heavy drain from the industry, but there has been a check on that, and it has been reviewed recently. If the hon. Member will give me cases, I shall be glad to look into the matter.