Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Labour the numbers of mineworkers transferred from county Durham and also of those recruited for special training in other industries, with the respective occupations of both classes of men?
§ Mr. E. BevinDuring the period from 2nd September, 1940, to 28th October, 1940, 2,970 Durham miners were transferred to districts outside county Durham. In addition 1,737 Durham miners were transferred to other work within the county. During approximately the same period 1,074 Durham miners were accepted for Government Training Centres. As to the1228W third part of the Question the following is the information required so far as it is at present available:
Occupations to which Durham. Miners were transferred. Coalmining 166 Iron Ore Mining 234 Work other than coalmining, mainly labouring in building and civil engineering contracting, non-ferrous metals and chemical industries 4,307 Total 4,707
Occupations in which Durham Miners are being trained. Engineering— Fitting 933 Sheet Metal working 51 Electric welding 33 Machine operating 29 Centre lathe operating 21 Oxy-acetylene welding 5 Instrument making 2 Total 1,074 My hon. Friend will appreciate that in dealing with the mining industry I must work in collaboration with the Mines Department and am largely dependent on the action taken by them.