§ 85. Captain Crowderasked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange to have published in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the official instruction issued by his Department explaining how ballotees, subsequently called to the Forces, can claim their period of employment in coal-mining for demobilisation in Class A.
§ Mr. Lawson:An Army Council Instruction was issued in February, 1946, regarding the reckoning of Service in the coal mines of personnel directed to the coal mines before joining the Forces. The A.C.I. provides that coalmining ballotees who were discharged from coalmining and who were called up for His Majesty's Forces will count the period of training and of employment in coalmining as reckonable service for Age and Service grouping, but not for any financial benefits. This concession does not extend to personnel who entered the coal mines either as optants or volunteers. Individuals claiming such service are instructed to submit their applications in the required form in triplicate to their commanding officers. When the reckonable service as a coalmining ballotee has been assessed, changes of Age and Service groups are required to be notified in Part II/III Orders.