asked the Minister of Labour how many coalminers have been conscripted into the Services during the last 12 months.

No underground coal-miners have been called up since 1941 if their services have been required in the mines.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two questions? First, will the miners who are still in the Forces be offered Class B release now, and, second, is the practice of calling up coalminers for the Forces now to cease entirely?

In reply to the first part, there is a Question on the Order Paper on that specific point, which I shall be answering later. In reply to the second part, we are not calling up coalminers in the present circumstances.