§ 32. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Labour whether he will consult with representatives of the universities and technical colleges and of industry regarding the effect upon the recruitment of students of the granting of deferment of National Service to certain categories of graduates and those holding equivalent qualifications.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodDeferment is not granted to any category of graduates as such but deferments are granted to certain individual science and engineering graduates who are engaged in work of particular national importance. I have received no representations as to the effect of deferment of this kind on the recruitment of students to universities and technical colleges.
§ Mr. WilleyI appreciate what the Minister has done but, at the same time, recognising the desperate shortage there is of particular scientists, will he go a little further to see that these particular scientists, who can serve no particularly useful purpose in the Services, go where they are so urgently required?
§ Mr. MacleodThe number of deferments this year is expected to be about 1,400, and it is a graph that has been climbing very steeply indeed over the last two years.