§ 21. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Labour whether he will now arrange to exempt from National Service those whose call-up has to be deferred.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo, Sir.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIn view of the suspension of the call-up of grade III medical cases, has not the time come to do more tapering off of the call-up, which in any event is to be abandoned in the lifetime of this Parliament? Is there not a strong case for suspending the call-up now in the case of those who have had their call-up suspended for many months—those in apprenticeships, university courses, in chemistry, or in agriculture, etc.?
§ Mr. MacleodObviously I am making no statement in regard to the future of National Service, but, as the hon. and 1132 gallant Member realises, this is an administrative arrangement and not statutory; and it would be unfair to extend exemption from National Service obligations to the people who happen to have been deferred.