asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he now has any further information to give as to the prospect of the Government's proposal for the employment of Polish ex-soldiers in British coalmines being carried out.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to a similar Question on 18th June.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what the present state of the negotiations is? It is a very long time since the Foreign Secretary held out hope of this employment.

We are still in discussion on this matter, but the number of Poles available who are suitable for work of this description is not high. I propose to deal with the matter tomorrow in the course of the Debate,

Will the Minister see that, pending the return of these men to Poland, consideration is given, in connection with their employment in the mines, to their being taken away entirely from military control, British or Polish, so that they may be free men working in the mines?

If there should be any Poles who can be employed in the mines —I have already indicated that there are not many available—they would have to be employed under civilian supervision.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that this is a matter of very considerable urgency How long does he think these negotiations are going on?

There can be no question of urgency about it, if the number available is small.