§ 25. Major Wyattasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider not instituting any further prosecutions against boys who were directed into the mines under the coalmining ballot and dropping any such prosecutions that may be outstanding.
§ Mr. IsaacsBoys who entered coalmining as a result of the ballot are subject to the Essential Work and Coalmining Industry Order, 1943, as are other men in the industry. The policy announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, with regard to the enforcement of Article 6 of that Order, applies equally to these boys as to other workers in the industry, all of whom, however, remain liable to proceedings in the event of their leaving coalmining employment without permission of the National Service Officer. The great majority of the boys selected by ballot have, in fact, loyally accepted work in coalmining as their form of national service and have done very good work in the pits.