§ 32. Mr. Ian Harveyasked the Minister of Labour whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to direct those who are exempted or deferred from National Service to undertake duties in Civil Defence.
§ Sir W. MoncktonNo, Sir. Those medically rejected would, in general, be equally unfit for those branches of Civil Defence which are in greatest need. Those deferred for a limited period, such as apprentices and students, will in due course go into the Armed Forces, and it would be of little value to draft them in the meanwhile into Civil Defence. Those indefinitely deferred so long as they remain in coalmining or agriculture may well be urged to volunteer, but I am satisfied, after consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary, that in present circumstances, the advantages of applying compulsion to this comparatively small class are outweighed by the disadvantages and practical difficulties.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIs the Minister satisfied that all those who are deferred for one reason or another eventually join the Forces? There is a general apprehension that a number of them escape altogether.
§ Sir W. MoncktonThere may be a certain number who escape, but I am constantly on the watch and I am confident that the number is diminishing.