asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners unemployed in the county of Durham and also in Great Britain on the latest available date?

I regret that the figures desired are not available for publication.

Is not that something strange, as we have had these figures hundreds of times? If we have had them before, why cannot we have them now?

I announced to the House some time ago that owing to the transfer of labour and the movements from one trade into another the publication of figures under separate trades would cease. Since that time I have not published them.

Are there not thousands of miners unemployed? If there are, why cannot they be found work in the pits?

There is no reason for any miner who is capable of working not being back at the pit. There are people in the mining areas who are signing on as unemployed miners, but many of them are past working. I have established a committee to investigate the matter to see whether there is anything that can be done.