54. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Defence how many non-commissioned officers of the rank of corporal in the Army and equivalent rank in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have been released from the Service to return to the mines under recent regulations; and of these, how many were released from units serving outside this country.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in reply to three Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 20th March, no figures are yet available regarding the number of soldiers who are being released. Five applications have been received by the Air Ministry and 203 by the Admiralty.280W These are being scrutinised by the Service Departments and the National Coal Board. If the hon. Member wishes to pursue the matter further I would invite him to address Questions to the respective Service Ministers. I regret that the information requested in the last part of the Question is not available.