§ 13. Lieut.-Colonel Bolesasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the ruling of the chairman of a court set up under the Reinstatement in Civilian Employment Act, that Merchant Navy does not come under the jurisdiction of the Act; and whether he has any statement to make.
15. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ian Fraserasked the Minister of Labour when he intends to introduce legislation to provide a right 1914 to reinstatement in pre-war employment for merchant seamen similar to that provided for soldiers, sailors and airmen under the Reinstatement Act.
19. Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Minister of Labour if members of the Mercantile Marine services are in the same position as members of His Majesty's Forces for the purposes of the Reinstatement of Employment Act.
§ Mr. BevinThe Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act is confined to service in the Armed Forces, and does not apply to service in the Merchant Navy. For reasons which I expained when the Bill was before the House, I could not undertake to widen its scope in this respect.