HC Deb 03 August 1944 vol 402 cc1626-7W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can give any information to show whether the reluctance of boys to work underground is peculiar to this country, or whether this phenomenon applies to other coal-producing countries; and, if not, will he make inquiries.

Mr. T. Smith

There was some indication before the war of a diminution in the rate of juvenile recruitment in the Euro- pean coalfields, but for obvious reasons I cannot obtain recent information on this subject.