§ 10. Major Lyonsasked the Minister of Labour whether any form of reservation is granted solely because a person's name is on the Central Register; whether this fact in itself operates as a deferment; and whether he will consider ordering an examination of all persons of an age liable to National Service who appear on the Register and who are not individually reserved?
§ Mr. BevinThe answer to the first and second parts of the Question is, "No, Sir." The third part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Major LyonsAs the right hon. Gentleman informed the House some time ago that there had been no review of this Register for a year, does he not think that in present circumstances some examination should take place to deal with persons on the Register who are not employed in national work?
§ 11. Major Lyonsasked the Minister of Labour from what date the system of bulk reservation will cease and the system of individual reservation commence; whether review will at once be made of all cases hitherto subject to collective reservation and of all cases where persons of military age, not, previously of a reserved employment, have been placed in central or decentralised Government employment of a nature falling within bulk reservation, and have been exempted up to now accordingly?
§ Major LyonsWill the right hon. Gentleman be able to give an answer a week hence?
§ Major LyonsDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise the urgency of it?
§ 18. Sir Smedley Crookeasked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the necessity for providing a reasonable supply of beer for those who are working in the production of munitions of war, he will consider the advisability of allowing the brewers to retain their productive foremen and other skilled labour as these men are essential and irreplaceable?
§ Mr. BevinBrewers, head brewers, assistant brewers, and operative foremen are reserved by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work at and over the age of 30, and other workers in productive processes at and over the age of 35. Where it is considered essential to retain the services of key men below the age of reservation, application for deferment of calling up may be submitted.
§ Sir Smedley CrookeWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it will be difficult to obtain the necessary output from the men in the heavy industries unless they can get their beer?
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the concern of the Conservatives that the workmen should obtain beer, would it not be desirable to encourage them to brew their own beer and do away with the brewers?
19. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that no man in industry essential to war production will be allowed to volunteer for service with the Royal Air Force unless he obtains the permission of the Labour Department?
§ Mr. BevinMen reserved under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work, and men whose calling up has been deferred because they are engaged on work of urgent public importance, are not accepted as volunteers for His Majesty's Forces without the consent of my Department and the other Government Departments concerned. The only exception is that any man possessing the special qualifications required may join the R.A.F. or the Fleet Air Arm as air pilot or observer.
Miss WardIs the Minister not aware that the withdrawal of key men from industry without the pre-knowledge of 1473 their employers may place certain industrial establishments engaged on important war production in a most unfortunate position? Will my right hon. Friend not reconsider the position?
§ Mr. BevinI have already explained that: a person can be taken away only where his special qualifications fit him to join the R.A.F. or the Fleet Air Arm as air pilot or observer, and unless we permit that, there may be no work from which to withdraw them.
Miss WardDoes my right hon. Friend realise that there may be conflicting views about the usefulness of a man, and ought there not to be an arbitrator?