HC Deb 31 July 1947 vol 441 cc634-5
51. Brigadier Low

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that, under the new release programmes, men in Group 62 will be released from all three Services before the end of 1947, he will extend the concession of Class B release to selected university students in groups above Group 62.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ness Edwards)

No, Sir. The reasons which caused this concession to be limited to Groups 1 to 62 are not affected by the fact that the men in Group 62 are now likely to be released rather earlier than was expected. The universities have already far more applicants than places, and any extension of special releases would almost certainly mean that some men released in Class A would fail to obtain places.

Mr. Keeling

Is the Minister aware that the number of men with university scholarships in the later 60 groups of the Army is not very large? Would it not be a great advantage to the nation if those men were released?

Mr. Ness Edwards

It might be regarded as morally wrong that men in Class B should take precedence of men in the Class A release scheme.

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

Is the Minister aware that in the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London there are not 90 per cent. ex-Service men and 10 per cent. from the schools but only 50–50, and that there is plenty of room for ex-Service men, if they were given preference?

Mr. Ness Edwards

That is not the advice given to us by the Joint University Recruiting Board, which consists of the vice-chancellors of the universities.

Mr. Pickthorn

Is it not rather absurd to talk about moral wrongness in this matter? What is being asked for is, now that conscription is only for one year, that some boys with two, three or four years in the Services should not be held back while boys coming straight from school are able to go straight into the universities. To pretend there is some moral difficulty, and comparing them with men who actually fought in the war, is rather absurd.

Mr. Ness Edwards

The inequity to which I referred is allowing a man out from Class B when he would prevent a Class A man from getting a place.

Mrs. Manning

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that some young men went into the Forces at 17½? Will he consider getting them out, especially when universities are willing to have them?

Mr. Ness Edwards

We must keep enough places in the universities to take all the Class A men. If we release men who are in Class B, giving them the preference to come out before their turn, they will keep Class A men out of places.