asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make it clear that men who have to move their homes to return to work in coalmines under his orders will have the expenses of removing to the coalfield and afterwards returning to the district from which they are taken fully met by his Ministry?

Men who, on return to the coalfields, wish to bring their families to live with them, may receive, subject to the conditions of the Household Removal Scheme, an allowance to cover the cost of moving their families and furniture. The question whether a similar allowance would be granted in case of return to the workers' former employment would depend on the circumstances in which this takes place. I may say generally that if the men should be transferred again to work of national importance, they will again be entitled to similar allowances.

Does the Minister realise that I am trying to look to the pre-war period and to the re-establishment of these men, if it is possible, in the places of work from which they have been withdrawn by Government orders? Is that included?

This decision applies to the war period. In answer to an hon. Member last week I said that I am considering the whole question of readjustment and reinstatement on the broadest possible scale and I cannot deal with it on a question concerning only one group.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that exminers who left the pits many years ago on medical advice, now settled in other occupations, in some cases on work of national importance, are directed to return to work underground by his Department, sometimes in water, against the advice of their own family doctors; that the medical officers of his Ministry often pass such men as fit for pit-work only to find, when they reach the pit-head, that the doctor employed by the colliery company declares them medically unfit; that some of them by this time have lost their original jobs; and whether he will take steps to prevent all this?

In cases of doubt it is the practice to call for independent medical evidence. I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that men are often wrongly certified fit for coalmining work, but I shall be glad to have any cases of alleged hardship brought forward by hon. Members investigated without delay.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is harassing for these men to be submitted to three medical men and then in some cases to lose their original jobs?

War is a harassing thing.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many ex-miners required to return to the pits are complaining against the medical examination of them by the medical officer of his Department at Bolton; and whether he will take appropriate steps in this matter.

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at a case I am sending to him of a doctor passing a man to the pit and the colliery doctor afterwards refusing to pass him?

Certainly.