§ 25. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider remitting the sentence of one month's imprisonment on a boy of 20 954 years of age, of whose name he has been informed, who was directed to the mines although he had volunteered for nearly every branch of the Services, having a horror of going down a mine, who failed to comply with a direction to attend at a pit in County Durham.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI am informed that the young man in question was directed after medical examination to training in underground coal-mining work under the ballot scheme, and made no appeal. He failed to obey the direction, and, after several warnings and two previous convictions, he was sentenced on 2nd January to one month's imprisonment for failing to comply with the direction of a National Service officer. On 6th January I received a petition in which the young man stated that he did not fancy coal-mining work, and thought the job he was doing more important. He indicated, however, that he was now willing to obey the direction, and, after consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour and National Service, I felt able to advise the remission of the remainder of the young man's sentence. He was actually released on 12th January.