HC Deb 10 April 1951 vol 486 c793
1. Mr. Redmayne

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the volunteer strength of the Territorial Army is estimated by him to be available for embodiment in their present unit; and what percentage is estimated to be not available to any unit.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Frederick Lee)

82 and 13 respectively.

Mr. Redmayne

Is the Minister aware that this figure of 13 per cent. of men not available on embodiment will cause great disorganisation in the Territorial Army and is a strong argument for publishing now the schedule of reserved occupations?

Mr. Lee

I do not think that we should take that figure as being uniform throughout the country. It will, of course, vary in many localities. It would be misleading to assume that there will be a mean 13 per cent.

Mr. Low

If the figure is not uniform throughout the country, the Minister must mean that in some places the figure is even worse. Does not that make nonsense of the embodiment scheme of the Territorial Army?

Mr. Lee

I should not have thought so.