§ 18. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for War why it has been found necessary for 21046748 Frank Leonard Clark, who lives at Cudham, Kent, to go to Dover, some 65 miles away, for his 219 medical examination on 14th June, and then to proceed, on 11th August, to New-quay, some 290 miles away, for his 14 days' Z Reserve training; to what extent this is general practice; and, in view of the deteriorating economic situation, if he will make more economical arrangements in the interests of the taxpayer.
§ Mr. StracheyWherever other factors have allowed, Class Z reservists have been posted to Territorial Army units near their homes in the hope that some will undertake voluntary engagements with these units. Mr. Clark is posted to the Inns of Court Regiment, which is the nearest Territorial Army unit of his Corps. He must therefore train with that unit, although its place of training for this year is Newquay. With regard to his medical examination, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, who asked me to thank the hon. Member for drawing his attention to this case, that the instruction to Mr. Clark to report to Dover for medical examination was issued in error; he will be examined at Lewisham which, I am told, meets his convenience.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the taxpayers of Britain are fed up with this groundnut mentality?
§ Mr. E. L. MallalieuThe hon. Gentleman has mentioned "the deteriorating economic situation."
§ Sir W. SmithersHear, hear.
§ Mr. MallalieuCan my right hon. Friend give any indication of the depths to which the country would have sunk economically if the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) and his Friends—if any—
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a question asking for information.
§ 26. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Secretary of State for War how many men over 40 years of age are being called as Z reservists this year; and what is the percentage of the total.
§ Mr. StracheyApproximately 4,000, or about 2 per cent. of the total, being recalled.
§ Mr. NabarroIn consideration of the fact that 1,250,000 National Service men 220 have been trained since 1945, why is it necessary to call up any man over the age of 40?
§ Mr. StracheyBecause this is a specialised call-up. For example, in the case of Anti-Aircraft Command certain individuals of that age—they are only 2 per cent. of the total—are extremely valuable because they are experienced in the technical functions for which they are needed.
§ 36. Mr. Alportasked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department has any intention of compensating Class Z reservists called-up for 15 days' training, who are self-employed, for the financial loss which this further call for National Service will involve.
§ Mr. StracheyNo. Sir. Self-employed men may apply for exemption from recall on grounds of exceptional financial hardship, but if the appeal is not allowed no compensation can be authorised.
§ 37. Mr. Odeyasked the Secretary of State for War whether steps can be taken to see that Z reservists recalled for 15 days' training are engaged on military training suited to their qualifications and experience and not engaged throughout as mess waiters, as in the case of A.694827 Gunner J. B. Lindsay.
§ Mr. StracheyWar Office instructions provide that no distinction should be made between Z reservists and others in the allocation of essential administrative duties. These are, however, kept to an absolute minimum except where the individual's normal employment is as cook, driver, clerk, etc. The maximum use is to be made of civilians as mess, cookhouse and sanitary orderlies and a special increment of civilians is authorised to assist units in carrying out these instructions.
§ Mr. OdeyWill the Secretary of State bear in mind that these Z reservists have been called to the Colours often at grave loss to individuals and serious dislocation to industry? Will he not have regard to the desirability, to say the least of it, of these men being so employed that their readiness for battle is improved and their time not wasted as mess waiters?
§ Mr. StracheyI cannot agree that there is waste of time in Z reservist camps. From my personal experience I think that the administrative duties have been kept to a very low limit indeed.
§ Mr. George ThomasIn view of the fact that my right hon. Friend told the House earlier this afternoon that this call-up is a specialised one, is he seeking to tell us that the 15 days is spent in mess waiting?
§ Mr. StracheyI will give my hon. Friend, if he likes, details of what happened in this case. The man was called up as a driver, three drivers were allotted to this unit, and only two vehicles were available. [Laughter.] That man, who was from this walk of life in civilian life, was so employed in the mess and I cannot regard that case as a scandal.
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteIs waiting in the mess an administrative duty?
§ Mr. Ian HarveyIs the Secretary of State aware that that is a complete contradiction of what he told the House in a recent debate when he said that the object of this call-up was to create teams? Will he say what sort of team a mess waiter is in?
§ Mr. StracheyI have told the House exactly how this arose, and I see nothing, to be ashamed of.