HC Deb 06 July 1955 vol 543 c1120
32. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many waiters and stewards who previously had been granted indefinite deferment from National Service have left the Merchant Navy within a short time of their attaining the age of 26 years.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Osborne

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is an impression that many of these men retire from these jobs immediately they are past the age for the call-up? Why give them a deferment when, for instance, scientific research workers in universities are not granted such deferments?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The question of deferment is one for my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour. As far as this category is concerned, all I can tell my hon. Friend is that these statistics are not available.