§ 5. Sir Wavell Wakefieldasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many of the 1,000 German prisoners of war in this country who are miners have started work in British coal mines.
§ Sir W. WakefieldWhen are these prisoners of war going to start work to help to overcome the shortage of coal?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI cannot say anything more than that the matter is still under discussion together with the whole question of the employment of prisoners of war in this country.
§ Mr. TinkerCould they not be put into employment in open-cast mining where there would be no danger to underground miners.
§ Mr. R. J. TaylorWill the Minister employ our own British miners who are in the Army?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThis matter is still under consideration. I would remind my hon. Friends that we can utilise some of these people to extract coal in Germany, which will be of great assistance to us here, because of the question of supplying S.H.A.E.F. and other sources.