§ 61. Mr. Evelyn Walkdenasked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the pronouncement by the national production officer of the Mineworkers' Federation, of which he has been in formed, concerning the release of ex-mineworkers under Class B and the powers of revocation still held by commanding officers; and whether he will clarify the position of miners in the Services who desire release under Class B.
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir. It does not lie either with the man to apply for release or with his commanding officer to with hold release in Class B. The Ministry of Fuel and Power invited employers to furnish the names of all ex-underground coalminers for whom production work was immediately available. Those names have been forwarded to the Service Departments, who are in process of offering Class B release to the men concerned.
§ Mr. WalkdenBut is my right hon. Friend aware that here and there there are odd cases in the coalfields where men find it very difficult to negotiate their return to the coal face? Will he tell commanding officers, generals, field-marshals and everybody else, so that a man who is willing to work at the pit and get coal can go back to the coal face right away?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am not prepared to go outside the regulations already laid down, which have been fully explained to the industry and, I hope, to members of the Services.