asked the Minister of Labour whether men liable to call-up to the Forces who are exempt from call-up by virtue of their being employed in underground work in the coal industry, will remain entirely exempt from further call-up, provided they remain in that employment for as long as men of corresponding age outside the industry serve in the Forces.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) for how many years a man of 18 years of age must be satisfactorily employed in underground coalmining in order to cease to be liable to call-up for military service;

(2) if he will make the period of national service in underground coalmining equivalent to the period of military service which all men of 18 years of age are now liable to undergo.

No, Sir. The call-up of such men will be deferred so long as they remain satisfactorily employed in underground work in the coalmines, but if they leave that employment before reaching the age of 26 they will be regarded as available for call up. I would like to emphasize that the object of the decision to defer young men going into coalmining is to encourage young men to enter coalmining permanently. The industry does not want men for a period of two years or 18 months only.

Can I take it that provided an optant for the coal industry remains in the industry until he is 26 he will then be exempt from call-up for military service?

Yes, Sir, when he is 26 he comes outside the range of call-up.