HC Deb 09 July 1958 vol 591 c382
21. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are at present deferred from call-up; and what is the current intake of men whose deferment has expired.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The number of men whose call-up was deferred on 31st March, 1958, the latest date for which information is available, was 403,020. The call-up of men whose deferment had expired averaged about 2,800 a month during April and May, 1958.

Mr. Lipton

In view of those rather formidable figures—formidable to the Services but not to those to whom deferment is granted—will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he is not allowing deferment to get so out of hand as to make it necessary for men born in the last quarter of 1939, for example, to be called up? Is this one of the factors which is still keeping those men in a state of suspense?

Mr. Macleod

No, Sir; it is not a factor in that. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a break-down of the 400,000, which is of considerable interest. It includes the indefinite deferments of coal miners, those engaged in agriculture, seamen and so on. Postponements on account of hardship are not included, and that figure is only about 2,000 at present.

Following is the information:

NUMBERS DEFERRED AT 31ST MARCH, 1958
Apprentices 133,401
Post-apprenticeship deferment 4,213
Articled pupils, etc 34,160
Agricultural workers 52,796
Coal miners 76,859
Seamen 38,292
Fishermen (Royal Naval Reserve Patrol Service). 1,673
Shale oil miners 144
Police cadets 1,550
Teachers and scientific workers 5,245
Boys at school 3,081
Students (full-time) 51,606
403,020
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