§ Sir C. Edwardsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the rules to be observed, and the Department to which application should be made, when colliery managers apply for the discharge or release of former employees to work in the pits; is the application sent by his Department 1230W to the War Office with a formal recommendation for release in each case or does his Department discriminate in these applications, or are these applications sent to the commanding officers of the various regiments to which the men belong; and will he give the general practice adopted in dealing with these cases?
§ Mr. T. SmithIn accordance with instructions sent to all collieries in February, March and June, applications for the release of men serving in the Army at home for whom underground work is immediately available, should be made to the Ministry of Fuel and Power. All cases in which the necessary conditions are fulfilled are sent to the War Office for consideration and men in categories not expressly excluded under the arrangements authorised by the Government are released.
§ Sir C. Edwardsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has yet received an application from the Ocean Colliery Company for the release of Sapper E. A. Davies, 214534, Royal Engineers, The Lindens, Bradford Place, Penarth, Glamorganshire, to work at either the Risca or Nine Mile Point collieries; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. SmithAn application for the release of Sapper E. A. Davies to return to Nine Mile Point Colliery was received in April but the War Office were unable to release him under the arrangements for the release of ex-miners authorised by the Government.