HC Deb 14 October 1943 vol 392 c1032
5. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider granting indefinite deferment to butchers of low medical category over 30 years of age employed on travelling shops in rural areas especially where the customers are employed full-time in industry and find it difficult to travel to the towns for their shopping?

Mr. Bevin

Deferment is not normally granted to men born in 1905 or later who are engaged in the occupation referred to by my hon. Friend. If such men are placed in medical Grades III or IV, they are not, at present, called up for the Armed Forces, but are transferred to industry to some work of greater national importance. Applications for the deferment of those born before 1905 are dealt with by district man-power boards on their merits, irespective of the man's medical category.

Mr. Davies

Will my right hon. Friend ask his officers to have it in mind, because it is a very great convenience to the public, particularly in the rural areas, to have these travelling butchers' shops, otherwise they would have to travel miles by bus to do their shopping?

Mr. Bevin

The man-power board have instructions to take all factors into consideration, and I consult with the Minister of Food on all these matters.