§ 61. Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that individual specialists and nominated men released in December under Class B amounted to less than one-sixth of those released under the block release method, he will take steps to improve the machinery for individual applications.
§ Mr. IsaacsSelection for release in Class B by nomination is permitted only where the normal "block" release method would not enable the right men to be identified. It is, therefore, to be expected that the numbers released on nomination, whether individual specialists or not, should form only a small proportion of the total of Class B releases.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIs the Minister aware that that does not answer my Question? What objection can there be to giving the men greater scope to start their own businesses and to claim release in Class B on the ground that their services are important from the community point of view? Will the right hon. Gentleman 532 make an attempt to deal with men as human beings and not as digits?
§ Mr. IsaacsIt is most interesting to hear that from the other side of the House, and to be asked not to deal with men as digits. I have a firm recollection of men being referred to as "hands," and now we come to "digits." If the Noble Lord will look at the answer I have given, I think he will find that I have replied to the Question on the Order Paper.