§ 51. Mr. Carsonasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the urgent need for coal production, he will review the arrangement whereby miners who wish to be released from the Forces to return to coalmining have to serve a minimum of six months before their release can be considered.
§ Mr. IsaacsNo, Sir. There are no underground coalminers in the Forces who have been recently called up, except those whose employment in the industry was serving no useful purpose. Six months seems a reasonable time to allow before revewing their potential usefulness in the industry.
Lieut.-Colonel Dowerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state how many of the 70,000 miners who have entered the pits during 1946 were Servicemen being directed, after demobilisation leave, into the mines.
§ Mr. IsaacsI have been asked to reply. The total number of ex-miners from His Majesty's Forces who were recruited for the mines in 1946 was 27,362, practically all of whom returned to the coal mines voluntarily. It was not the practice to issue directions save in a few exceptional cases.