§ 1. Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the exceptional circumstances attached to the case of Mr. David R. Sapsed of Birchall Farm, Cole Green, Hertford, a deferment can be granted in respect of his military service.
§ The Minister of Labour (Sir Walter Monckton)Mr. Sapsed is not eligible for deferment under the agricultural arrangements, and I regret that it is not possible to make an exception in his case. He was, however, granted five months' postponement of call-up, terminating on 12th May last, on the grounds of exceptional hardship.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithWhile appreciating what my right hon. and learned Friend says about the Regulations, may I ask whether he will review this matter in the light of these circumstances—first, the excellent record of food production on this farm; second, the fact that the stockman is partially crippled; third, that the farm of Mr. Sapsed, Snr., is too far away to enable him to run it; and fourth, the threatened loss of food production if this deferment is not granted?
§ Sir W. MoncktonThese sorts of difficulties are apt to arise in all these cases, and some hardship is certainly involved. If there are facts that have not been brought to the attention of the relevant tribunals, I should be glad to see them.
§ 2. Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that Mr. P. J. Gardiner, of Queen's College, Oxford, served for two years as a miner at Hucknall Colliery, he may be exempted from liability to military service.
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe arrangements under which young men liable for National Service in the Armed Forces could undertake an equivalent period of work in the coalmines instead were withdrawn early in 1947 before Mr. Gardiner went into the mines. He left the mines nearly three years ago, and would ordinarily be due for call-up at the end of the period of deferment he has been granted 375 for educational purposes. I am, however, satisfied that he went into the mines, after consulting my Department, under a genuine misunderstanding, and I have therefore decided, exceptionally, not to call him up.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithMay I express to my right hon. and learned Friend my appreciation that in this case he has shown that he knows when to break the Regulations?