§ 46. Mr. Christopher Shawcrossasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider introducing a scheme of national service under which men and women enlisting in the Armed Forces would be guaranteed permanent employment at the end of their military service in other services of the Crown or in public services, such as the Post Office, the fire service and air transport.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that it would be practicable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion as it stands. The needs of civilian Crown services cannot be forecast over the long periods involved in regular engagements. But for many years ex-regular members of the Forces have been given preference in recruitment to a number of civilian vacancies under the Crown, and measures to improve these opportunities are being actively examined. It has always been the practice for the fire service to include a proportion of ex-regulars, and this will no doubt continue, though it will be a matter for the local authorities. In the case of public boards, opportunities for ex-regulars must depend on arrangements which would have to be made by the boards themselves.