§ 50. Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Labour how many young men. 18 years of age, have been called up and joined the Services; and how many men of that age have been deferred or excused from serving between 1st October, 1945, and 24th May last.
§ Mr. IsaacsIt is estimated that the number of boys reaching 18 in the period 2156 1st October, 1945, to 24th May, 1946, was about 220,000. Of these, about 146,000 have joined or were joining the Services either as volunteers or under the National Service Acts. Of the remaining 74,000, about 14,000 have been rejected on medical grounds and the great majority of the remainder are reserved or deferred by reason of their employment in the Merchant Navy, agriculture, building, coalmining or railway service or as apprentices or students.
§ Mr. KeenanDo not these figures disclose that a large number of young men are escaping their obligations of national service because of their position in life, or because of the fact that their parents can provide for them? When national service is introduced as is suggested, will everybody be treated alike and will no one be called upon to give national service because of the inability of their parents to prevent it by giving them something else to do?
§ Mr. IsaacsI think my hon. Friend's questions are based on a false assumption. If he will look at these figures he will see that they did not disclose that any of these 220,000 are dodging their responsibilities.
§ Mr. KeenanI did not wish to say that they were dodging their responsibilities. I wished to ask my right hon. Friend if he realised that certain young men are allowed to have the opportunity of deferring their national service and others are not; and to ask whether, when national service is taken into consideration more fully, this preference will be avoided in future?
§ Mr. IsaacsI ask my hon. Friend to look at the answer I have given him Those who are given deferment are those genuinely engaged in schemes of national importance.