§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many men have been recalled, or allowed to return, from the mines to the Forces during the present year to date.
Major Lloyd GeorgeBetween 1st January and 29th April, 1944, recall instructions were issued to 749 men who had been released from the Forces to go direct to underground work in coal mines. Of these, 623 had been released before 31st March, 1943, and 126 since mid-November, 1943. Of the men released under the first scheme, 215 were recalled to the Army following an investigation which showed that they had left the coalmining industry, and 295 were recalled to the Royal Air Force when the Air Ministry gave men on release the option of rejoining or transferring from temporary to indefinite release.