asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how long an entrant into the mining industry takes under the new training regulations to be trained for work at the coal face; and how this period compares with the period under the previous regulations.

Under the Order of 1944 a new adult entrant had to train and work elsewhere for 22 weeks before he could start at the coal face, and his training there was four weeks minimum, making 26 weeks over all. Under the current regulations, and for the time being, the corresponding minimum periods are three weeks and 12 weeks, and the minimum overall period 19 weeks.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that within a period of three weeks an entrant is fit to be at the coal face, and has he sufficient pit sense and is he in a physical condition to go to the training face?

It has never been intended that a boy should develop pit sense as a result of three or six weeks' training. Pit sense is only developed after a long time in the pits.

Is he in a condition from a purely safety point of view to be put on to the training face after a period of three weeks?

Every precaution is taken to ensure that the entrant is fully safeguarded in respect of safety.