Mr. Murrayasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is able to give the numbers, separately, of boys directed to the mines and optants who have entered the coalmines in County Durham; and as a result of such entry, how many extra face producers have been obtained.
Major Lloyd GeorgeAbout 2,800 men from the ballot and 1,000 optants and volunteers have entered the coal mines in County Durham. Information is not available as to the number of additional face producers obtained as a result of such entry, but there was an increase of 1,913 workers employed within 20 yards of the coal face on the 23rd September, 1944, compared with the corresponding date a year ago.