§ 3. Mr. Windsorasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fishing industry of Hull having now almost ceased, he will issue instructions to the Hull Employment Exchange that fish 571 dockworkers can now be permitted to undertake other work of national importance without having to wait two months?
§ Mr. BevinI should like to make it clear that there is nothing in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations which prevents a man from undertaking any kind of civilian work. The restrictions in the Schedule apply only to acceptance for service in the Armed Forces or for full-time Civil Defence work, and even in such instances are in general removed in the case of a man who has been unemployed for two months. I am considering whether this period of two months should be reduced in appropriate cases.