HC Deb 01 December 1953 vol 521 c931
14. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for War the latest recruiting figures for the Home Guard in the county of London and elsewhere.

Mr. Head

By 15th November 34,162 men were enrolled and 27,305 had joined the Reserve Roll for enrolment in an emergency. This is an increase of just under 3,000 in the past month. On the same date in the county of London 844 men were enrolled and 423 were on the Reserve Roll.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it would help Home Guard recruiting if the Government agreed that Reserve liabilities of all men over 40 would be waived if they joined the Home Guard?

Mr. Head

There is at present an arrangement whereby any man on the Reserve who wishes to join the Home Guard may apply to the War Office for permission to do so, and, provided he has not an absolutely vital rôle in the Service, that permission is granted.