HC Deb 04 March 1947 vol 434 c227
18. Mr. Sidney Shephard

asked the Minister of Labour how many coalminers have been conscripted into the Services during the last 12 months.

Mr. Isaacs

No underground coal-miners have been called up since 1941 if their services have been required in the mines.

Mr. Shephard

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two questions? First, will the miners who are still in the Forces be offered Class B release now, and, second, is the practice of calling up coalminers for the Forces now to cease entirely?

Mr. Isaacs

In reply to the first part, there is a Question on the Order Paper on that specific point, which I shall be answering later. In reply to the second part, we are not calling up coalminers in the present circumstances.