§ 108. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the fact that only five per cent. of the boys conscripted for work in coal mines wish to remain in the mining industry and that mining is a profession of national importance, what further steps are being taken to improve conditions in the mining areas.
§ Mr. GaitskellReliable information as to the proportion of these boys who have volunteered to remain in the industry is not available, and in view of the fact that many of the young men concerned had previously trained for other occupations to which they were naturally anxious to return, such information would not afford a sound basis for assessing the relative attractiveness or otherwise of coalmining employment. A more reliable guide is the fact that the manpower employed in the industry has been increased by voluntary recruitment from under 693,000 at the beginning of this year to over 716,000 and that it is continuing to increase. I have no doubt that this is due, in large measure, to the very substantial improvements introduced in the industry this year by the National Coal Board in consultation with the National Union of Mineworkers and other Unions concerned.