asked the Minister of Defence what steps are being taken to expedite the return of ex-miners, now in His Majesty's Forces, to the coal mines.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilkeston (Mr. Oliver) last Wednesday.

Will my right hon. Friend inform the House of the approximate number involved, and how long such men need to work in the mines before they can consider themselves released from the possibility of return to the Forces?

In regard to the latter part of that supplementary, perhaps my hon. Friend will look up the answer previously given. In regard to the first part, I cannot say without notice.