§ 51. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the signing of the peace treaties and the manpower shortage, he expects, shortly, to be able to announce a further substantial acceleration of demobilisation.
§ Mr. IsaacsI would refer my hon. Friend to the "Statement Relating to Defence," Cmd. 7042, which has just been presented to Parliament.
§ Mr. DribergBut is not my right hon. Friend aware of the deep concern caused by that statement, and the announcement in it that more than a million men will still be in the Forces at the end of March, 1948; can he not say anything further; and is he bringing constant pressure on the Service Departments and on the Foreign Secretary, from his particular point of view?
§ Mr. IsaacsI cannot say anything further than what is contained in the statement itself. Surely, the hon. Member does not want an opinion from me?