§ 18. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish the ages and dates on which men will be called up, during 1948 and 1949, under the National Service Act; and the estimated number of men in each intake.
§ Mr. IsaacsAs set out in the statement relating to Defence, 1948 (Cmd. 7327) the maximum nurriber of National Service men to be called up in each of the years 1948 and 1949 is approximately 150,000. Intakes will be spread more or less evenly throughout the period. Postings to the Royal Navy and R.A.F. are at present weekly and to the Army twice monthly. As in former years postings will be suspended over the Christmas periods. The normal age of call-up will be 18 years 3 months in 1948 and 18 years 6 months in 1949.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWill my right hon. Friend see what can be done to enable those who wish to start their period of National Service at the age of 18 to do so, if that can be arranged, in order to reduce the very considerable inconvenience which is caused?
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir. It is now definitely a part of the scheme that those who wish to be called up earlier to enable them to fit in with university training or industrial work can exercise an option to do so.
§ Mr. JenningsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that only last week I submitted a case in such circumstances and that his Department refused it?
§ Mr. IsaacsPossibly there was quite a good reason for that. I have not seen the letter.