asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of miners still in the Army; whether he has ascertained the number of experienced miners who were not working in the mines when called up and, consequently, were not put down as miners; and if he will consider releasing these men who offer to work in the mines although they were not sighed on as miners.
At mid-November there were about 21,000, nearly 10,600 having been then released. I am unable to say how many ex-miners are classified under their later occupations. This point is not material, however, as the selection of names for release is made under the auspices of the Ministry of Fuel and Power and release in Class B is offered to all men whose names are notified, regardless of the occupation shown in the Army records.