HC Deb 17 December 1941 vol 376 cc1926-7
26. Major Lyons

asked the Minister of Information the number of male persons, excluding established civil servants, under 41 years of age employed by his Department in both London and the country who have been exempted from military service because of that employment and not previously of a reserved occupation and age?

The Minister of Information (Mr. Brendan Bracken)

The number is 206.

Major Lyons

Will my right hon. Friend cause a review to be made of all those cases where people have entered his Department without any special qualifications and have avoided service of all kinds, and will he realise, in view of the liabilities placed upon other people, that this is creating a real public scandal throughout the country?

Mr. Bracken

If what my hon. and gallant Friend has said were true, it would be a public scandal, and I will certainly inquire into the allegation he has made.

Major Lyons

Will my right hon. Friend call for a return from each Department?

Mr. Lipson

Is there any reason why the same test should not apply to these people as to others, namely, the test of the particular jobs they are doing?