At its meeting on 13th August, the Coal Production Council carefully reviewed the man-power position. Bearing in mind that of the 104,000 ex-miners registered, approximately 60,000 were formally face workers, which is the category most in demand, and that the Ministry of Labour have undertaken to use powers of direction to whatever extent is necessary to make available the number of men required by the industry to carry out its programme, the Council decided that it would not at present be justified in pressing for the return of men from the army.