HC Deb 14 June 1955 vol 542 cc394-5
1. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Labour why a man, details of whose case are in his possession, after medical examination, was allocated by his Department to the Royal Air Force, in view of the physical limitations of the man concerned.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

A National Service medical board had found this man fit for service in the limited capacity appropriate to Grade II (a) (feet). He had expressed a preference for the R.A.F. and, having been accepted by that Service in full knowledge of his physical assessment, was, in accordance with normal practice, posted to the R.A.F.

2. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Labour when it is proposed to call upon a man, details of whose case are in his possession, to complete his National Service on suitable duties in the Army, in accordance with the practice followed in numerous other cases where the physical requirements of the Royal Air Force have not been reached.

Mr. Watkinson

After this man's entry, the R.A.F. obtained their own consultant's opinion and, on it, decided that he was below the minimum physical standard of acceptance for National Service. In such circumstances it is not the practice to call up a man for further service.

Mr. Dodds

Does not the Minister appreciate that in the R.A.F. there are Grade III and Grade IV men—in fact there are some men who have to wear canvas shoes? Is he trying to justify this? Does he not feel that it will do a lot of harm to the principle of National Service unless there is some fair play between man and man?

Mr. Watkinson

I am not trying to justify it at all. What I am saying is that this man has been in front of our National Service medical board many times, as I think the hon. Member knows. I gave the assessment which these boards put upon him. The R.A.F., which is certainly not under my control, put a different assessment. There may be, as sometimes has happened before in these cases, some conflict of medical evidence.

Mr. Hamilton

Is it not the case that this man undertook a rather strenuous cricket tour in Australia last winter and that he scored 100 in a match only last Saturday, and that if he is fit to undertake a tour of that nature he is surely fit to peel "spuds" in the R.A.F.?

Mr. Watkinson

That sounds a very attractive proposition on the surface, but the fact is that a Service has to look at a man and consider what liability he will be to it in the future.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the Minister say if certain physical limitations are imposed by the R.A.F. on entrants who are conscripts called up for National Service? If they differ from the physical limitations imposed by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, could hon. Members be informed about the difference?

Mr. Watkinson

That is a question which the right hon. Gentleman will have to put to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Air and not to me.