§ 51. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Labour the percentage of Servicemen released from the forces since 1st January who have been released under the Class B scheme; and if, in order to bring this percentage up to. the full 15 per cent. he will consider, in consultation with the Service Ministers, some relaxation of the conditions on which Class B release is granted or offered, especially for work related directly to the production of food and of building materials.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour (Mr. Ness Edwards)The number of Servicemen released in Class B between 1st January and 15th March was 8.4 per cent. of the number released in Class A during the same period. With regard to the second part of the Question. the arrangements for the release of men in Class B are always under review, but provision. has already been made for the offer of release in Class B to practically all agricultural workers with more than 12 months' service in the Forces and that it is open to employers in the building materials industries to apply through the appropriate Government Department for the release of any of their experienced workers who have served more than 12 months in the Forces.
§ Mr. DribergIs my hon. Friend satisfied with the first part of his answer, that the percentage is only 8 per cent., instead of the 10 or 15 per cent. hoped for; and secondly, can he expedite the procedure referred to in the second part, because it often takes a very long time for these release offers to percolate through to the Far East?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsEvery effort is being made to release men in the building industry. I am afraid that we have no power to compel men to accept Class B release.
§ 61. Dr. Segalasked the Minister of Labour how many Class B releases have been refused by men serving in the 1392 Forces during the last quarter of 1945 and the first quarter of 1946, respectively; and what percentages these figures constitute of the total Class B releases for these periods.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI am making inquiries and will circulate the information, so far as it is available, in the OFFICIAL REPORT as early as possible.
§ Dr. SegalIn order to reduce the percentage of the refusals, will the hon. Gentleman consider extending the scope of Class B releases to include another 10 to 15 age groups in order to end the present farce of Class B releases?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI think we had better see the result of our present inquiries