39. Mr. Leeasked the Minister of Labour how many grades of people are now being deferred from National Service; the numbers involved; and what effect their deferment is having on the length of service required from others.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAs the Answer to the first two parts of the Question contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Answer to the last part of the Question is "None, Sir".
Mr. LeeIs it not a fact that we now have something which begins to look like a selective call-up and we even have a threat that we may have a sort of Premium Bonds gamble in connection with the remainder? Will the Minister say whether it is the Government's intention to inaugurate a selective call-up or not?
§ Mr. MacleodIt is true that already more young men are becoming available than the Services need, but that has been dealt with by not calling up or registering the full number of the age groups. Obviously, I have no statement to make, in answer to a Question, on the future of National Service.
§ Following is the table:
| Classes whose call-up is deferred | Number of men in the 1931 and later classes whose call-up was deferred at 1st October, 1956 |
| Apprentices | 170,200 |
| Post-apprenticeship deferments | 2,800 |
| Articled pupils and other straining for professional qualifications | 32,300 |
| Agricultural workers | 60,300 |
| Coal mining workers | 76,000 |
| Seamen | 40,900 |
| Fishermen (Members of Royal Naval Reserve Patrol Service) | 1,800 |
| Shale oil miners | 170 |
| Police cadets | 730 |
| Scientific research workers on high priority work | 2,800 |
| Teachers with first or second class honours degrees in science and mathematics | 191 |
| Boys at school granted deferment to 31st July, 1957 (to take General Certificate of Education or other external examination) | 6,200 |
| Students following full-time courses of further education | 50,600 |
| Total | 444,991 |
§ Note 1
§ Figures are given for 1st October, 1956, as this is the latest date for which an analysis is available.
§ Note 2
§ In addition to the classes set out in the table the call-up of railwaymen in key positions has been suspended since 14th December, 1956, for the period of the present emergency. The number of these deferred at present is approximately 1,000.
§ Note 3
§ Men with first class honours degrees in science or engineering, who complete their course of study or training in 1957 and who take up employment in this country which requires a science or engineering qualification of degree standard, will be able to be deferred in 1957.