HC Deb 31 October 1916 vol 86 c1580W
Colonel ARCHER-SHEE

asked the Home Secretary how many miners have been discharged from the Army and returned to civil life since the commencement of this year; and if arrangements have been made to replace all discharged men who were miners with single men of the same calling?

Mr. BRACE

In accordance with the decision of the Government that men who were previously employed in coal mines, and were reported as not fit for general service, should be released in order to resume their former employment, about 11,000 men have been transferred to Class W, Army Reserve, and returned to the mines. As the output of coal is still far short of the amount required for national purposes, and the men in question have been released in order to assist in increasing the output, there can be no question of releasing other miners for enlistment in the Army.