§ 31. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement of the reasons why demobilisation cannot be speeded up beyond the basis laid down in the table he published on 6th November.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe provisional programme of releases from the Forces beyond 31st December, which I announced on 6th November, represents the maximum rate of release consistent with the need for maintaining sufficient Armed Forces to meet current commitments.
§ Mr. HyndIs my right hon. Friend aware of the dissatisfaction there is in the Forces about this matter, and would he not consider issuing to the Army something on the lines of the excellent statement issued on this subject by the Royal Air Force?
§ Mr. IsaacsI appreciate the excellence of the statement by the Royal Air Force, and I am informed that the other Services contemplate something similar. I think it would be very helpful.
§ Mr. WarbeyWhen my right hon. Friend or his colleagues are issuing a statement, will they endeavour to explain 674 to the men in the Services the exact commitments which have caused the target for our Armed Forces to be raised over the level envisaged?
§ Mr. IsaacsI cannot dictate to my right hon. Friends what should be in the statement.
§ Lieut.-Commander BraithwaiteCan the right hon. Gentleman say to what extent the delay in demobilisation is due to troubles in Palestine?
§ Mr. IsaacsIt is not for me to differentiate between the importance of one commitment and another. My duty is to carry out what has been the agreed rate of release to meet those commitments, and there my responsibility ends.
§ Mr. EdenWould the right hon. Gentleman consult the Prime Minister about this, because we are all receiving large numbers of letters on this subject from the Services? If the fullest information could be given about the reasons I am sure it should be given.
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir, in view of what has been said I will certainly consult my right hon. Friend and my colleagues about it, but I would point out that the commitments are there.
§ Mr. A. Edward DaviesWould my right hon. Friend, in considering this matter afresh, see whether anything can be done to adjust the age groups? There are many complaints coming from men who having been in the Forces for four or five years are not receiving such good treatment as some men who have not been in the Forces and who fall outside the age groups.
§ Mr. G. WallaceIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is no wastage of skilled manpower in the Forces?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am not in a position to answer for what happens in the Forces, but in view of the tightness of manpower I believe that they are making the best use of their men.