§ 1. Colonel Lyonsasked the Minister of Labour whether, in considering the proposals for demobilisation, he will examine the practicability of including in the first priority class those married men of or over 45 years of age having children of school age, so that paternal control can be resumed, in the interests alike of the children and their mothers.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)Under the White Paper proposals, men aged 50 and over will be treated as a priority class, to be released, if they so desire, before other men. In framing these proposals, the possibility of giving some priority of release to married men with children was considered, but had to be rejected as impracticable, and likely to lead to anomalies. The fact that age is taken into account as well as length of war service will, however, benefit the class of men that the hon. and gallant Member has in mind.