§ 42. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Labour what categories of workers, students and others are granted indefinite deferment from National Service.
§ Sir W. MoncktonExtended deferment from National Service is granted in the national interest to men employed in certain coal mining occupations, to merchant seamen, to sea-going fishermen who are members of the Royal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service), to regular whole-time agricultural workers born before 1933, to a comparatively small number of highly-qualified scientists and engineers engaged on urgent work of high priority or on fundamental research, to a small number of shale oil underground workers, and to a small number of police cadets.
Such men are protected from call-up only while satisfactorily engaged on the work in question, and if they leave it before reaching the age of 26 they become available for call-up.
§ Mr. HyndHave the Government considered inviting people who have the privilege of indefinite deferment from call-up to contribute something towards national defence, perhaps by doing a little spare time Civil Defence training?
§ Sir W. MoncktonThey are encouraged to do what they can in the way of Civil Defence training, and so forth, but it has not been thought right, at present. to make it a compulsory matter.