§ 48. Mr. KINGasked the Minister of National Service whether he has considered the boxing exhibitions given at the Home of Boxing in Blackfriars Road, and is he aware that on 25th May many contests were arranged between picked men, and that such displays are frequent; whether these contests are between men of military age exempted from service; and what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. PRATT (Lord of the Treasury)My right hon. Friend has no information regarding the exhibiitons to which the hon. Member refers. In so far, however, as any men taking part in them were civilians of military age, they must have been men who held some authorised form of exemption or protection from military service. Exemptions are being constantly reviewed, with a view to the release for military service of all men whose retention in civil life does not appear to be warranted. It need hardly be stated that no man holds an exemption from military service on the ground of possessing athletic ability.