HL Deb 23 October 1967 vol 285 cc1345-7
LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a decision has yet been made following the recommendations of the Committee on the Age of Majority that boys who join the Armed Forces shall be given periodical opportunities to obtain discharge before the age of thirty.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, as your Lordships are aware, my honourable friend the Minister of Defence for Administration is examining the recommendations made by the Lord Chancellor s Committee in the context of a study of boys' service in the Armed Forces. The issues involved are complex and difficult and he is not yet in a position to announce a decision.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend, first, whether he is aware of the very strong support for the recommendations of this Committee, and, secondly, whether he is aware that when a deputation met the Minister in July he indicated that his decision on these matters would be given within a very reasonable period? May I ask whether he will try to expedite the decision?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I am certainly aware of the strength of feeling, because the noble Lord himself expressed this with great eloquence, if I may say so, in your Lordships' House, I know that my right honourable friend had hoped to announce a decision. I can only say that the problem is a difficult one. I share my noble friend's wish that a decision will be made as soon as possible, but I am afraid that I cannot say how soon it will be.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, could there not be an interim report on this matter? Is my noble friend aware that while this matter is dragging on boys of 15 are contracting, through their mothers, to serve in one of the Armed Forces for a number of years, and that this kind of procedure would have no legal validity in any other field?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, boys do not actually contract through their mothers. Their parents are called upon to express agreement. I fully appreciate my noble friend's wish for an interim solution, but I do not think that this is a problem which lends itself to an interim solution. Either the nettle is grasped and a solution is found, or it is not.

LORD GIFFORD

My Lords, could my noble friend give the House an assurance that he will make representations to the Minister so that a decision about this very unsatisfactory practice can be made as soon as possible?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, while I sympathise with my honourable friend in facing a very difficult problem, I will certainly give the undertaking that I personally will convey to him the views that have been expressed.