§ 5. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for War to make clear his intentions in the event of a state of emergency arising in regard to those who have undergone Z training and to those he proposes to exclude from this training, respectively; and what is to be expected by both classes as to the period when they will be recalled.
§ Mr. HeadBroadly speaking, those Z reservists who have undergone training in the past two years would be required for recall during the first months of an emergency: of those who have not been trained, some would be required in the first months, but the majority would be required at a later stage. As more trained National Service men become available in the Reserve Army, some of these men will be needed later, others will no longer be required.
§ Mrs. MannIs the Minister aware that his recent announcement that he would finish calling up the Z Reserve has caused a great deal of disquiet among persons who have undergone their Z Reserve training; and that his reply that they will be called up first would appear to indicate that those who have been shut out from the Z Reserve are in a much more favourable position and will not be required?
§ Mr. HeadThe hon. Lady will appreciate that the whole of this scheme was devised in order that we shall have a more efficient and more rapid mobilisation, and, therefore, the men who were called up were those who were last out. who, especially, would have various jobs to do and who would be required at an early stage of mobilisation. I hope that 215 mobilisation will not take place, but in any scheme we have to call up those men who are most vital in an emergency.
§ 12. Mr. Wiggasked the Secretary of State for War why he has decided not to call up the Class Z Reserve in 1953.