§ Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will cause inquiries to be made at the collieries, through his Regional Controllers, as to the effect on absenteeism of underground workers having to undertake Home Guard and other Civil Defence duties; will he consult both sides of the industry and make a statement after his inquiries have been completed?
1406W
Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, Sir. From the information available to me absenteeism among underground coal miners directly attributable to the performance of Home Guard and Civil Defence duties is on a scale too small to justify such an inquiry.