HC Deb 01 November 1945 vol 415 c627
78 Mr. Norman Bower

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that those men who joined the CD. services or war reserve police prior to April, 1941, have no rights under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act; that some of them are now being refused reinstatement by their former employers; and if he will consider amending the Act so as to bring these men within its scope.

Mr. Isaacs

Careful consideration was given to the claims of the persons referred to, but any extension of the legal rights granted to the Armed Forces was regarded as impracticable.

Mr. Bower

May I ask the Minister if he thinks it is right that these men should be penalised simply because they were patriotic enough to volunteer, with the encouragement of their employers, before they were called up?

Mr. Isaacs

The hon. Member knows that this forms part of a number of interrelated questions, and that to take one in isolation as against the others will cause almost insuperable difficulties.