HC Deb 11 June 1942 vol 380 c1267W
Mr. Oliver

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in obtaining the release of miners from the Armed Forces, consideration will first be given to miners with wives and families, many of whom have been in the Army from the early days of the war?

Captain Waterhouse

The main consideration for the release of ex-miners from the Army is that underground work is immediately available for them. When the names of such men are submitted, the War Office releases all those, whether married or single, who are not expressly excluded from the arrangements by military considerations. In regard to the Royal Air Force, the names of all the men whom the Air Ministry is prepared to release are sent to the colliery companies, with a view to immediate coal-mining employment being found for them.