asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many additional men can be absorbed in the mines during 1947; and if he will indicate the number for each coalfield.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what additional number of miners are required during April in each of the coalfields of the country.

The target set by the Government in the Economic Survey (Cmd. 7046) is to increase the coalmining labour force to 730,000 by the end of 1947. I am informed by the National Coal Board that their plans for the absorption of men are designed to enable this target to be achieved, and they are at present considering the best distribution of this intake over the various coal-fields.

Can my right hon. Friend say if in some districts recruits are coming forward more rapidly than the pits can absorb them?

That is perfectly true and presents us with some difficulty because of lack of training facilities and hostel accommodation. We are doing everything we can to absorb what recruits are coming in.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what number of recruits for the mining industry has been obtained in January, February and March of this year; how many have been allotted for training; and how many have been found employment by the National Coal Board.

In reply to that part of the question about the number of recruits and the numbers employed by the National Coal Board, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caernarvonshire (Mr. G. Roberts) on 15th April. All the entrants have had or are having the training, if any, required by the Regulations.

Can the Minister give us the numbers obtained from the employment exchanges of ex-miners who have signed on for unemployment benefit?

I am not sure that that is contained in the Question.