§ 41. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement clarifying the present position of young men born between 1st October and 31st December, 1939, under the National Service Acts.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)The White Paper on Call-up of Men to the Forces, 1957–60, explained that men born in the last three months of 1939 were unlikely to be called up. I have nothing to add to that statement at present.
§ Mr. DoddsWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that statement, may I ask him if he could say if there is any fear that these men will have to be called up to the forces, because, as he will appreciate, the majority are now 18½ years of age, and if they have to wait another two years to be called up, few employers will give them a worth-while job?
§ Mr. MacleodI would certainly like to resolve this uncertainty as soon as I can. I have said that implicit in the word "unlikely" there is a chance that they may be called up. The position at the moment is that it is unlikely that they will be needed, and when I can make the position absolutely clear, I will do so.