§ 10. Mr. Hannahasked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to set up local panels to decide as to necessary exemptions from military service of men indispensable for important industries?
§ Mr. E. BrownNo, Sir. This matter is dealt with by means of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations in accordance with which men in occupations essential to industry are not accepted in the Defence Services.
§ 27. Sir Charles Cayzerasked the Minister of Labour whether he can now give an official ruling as to the precise age at which young men who are now students 2068 or would be taking their examinations in the near future for any of the learned and technical professions will be called up for military service in view of the difficulty of these young men settling down to serious studies if they have no definite idea whether or not they will be able to take their examinations?
§ Mr. E. BrownStudents who on 1st October had reached the age of 20 and had not reached the age of 22 are liable to be called up for service under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act. Those who registered as militiamen last June are likely to be called up during the next six weeks, but it is not anticipated that any of those registering on 21st October next will be called up before the middle of November. The general postponement of training granted under the Military Training Act to full-time students has been cancelled, but individual students can apply to the hardship committees for postponement of their liability to be called up for service, on the ground of exceptional hardship. In any case when application for postponement has been duly made, the man concerned will not be called up while his application is awaiting decision. I should add as regards the age limit that it may be anticipated that it will be raised later on by Proclamation.