§ 30. Mr. Manningham-Bullerasked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department has refused to sponsor the release under Class B of 14929601 Private G. Bullock, whose services in the manufacture of surgical footwear are urgently required.
§ Sir S. CrippsPrivate Bullock was little more than an apprentice when he joined the Forces, at the age of 18 years, in February, 1945. He cannot be regarded as having acquired the high degree of skill and experience which alone would justify me in asking for his release.
§ Mr. Manningham-BullerIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Board of Trade Footwear Controllers at Leicester and Kettering have both recommended the release of this young man, that this young man is in medical category B 7, that he has been in the Army 28 months, that he was employed on very essential work in the manufacture of surgical boots, and that unless he is released now all the people employed in that small concern producing urgently required materials will become unemployed?
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, I cannot confirm all those details, but I am quite aware of the circumstances, and, in exercising my judgment on the case, I have decided that it is not such as would entitle me to put it forward.
§ Mr. Manningham-BullerIn view of the recommendations put forward by the Footwear Controllers, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman look at the matter again, to see whether he can relax some of the red tape?
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonWhen the right hon. and learned Gentleman says that this young man is too young to have acquired skill, has he any reason to think he has not acquired skill, or does he necessarily assume that nobody young can have skill?
§ Sir S. CrippsA certain period of time -requires to elapse before the necessary skill can be acquired in a trade such as this.