§ 2. Mr. de Freitasasked the Minister of Defence what plans he has for releasing National Service men before their period of service expires when the Services have no further use for them.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingI have been asked to reply.
It is intended to continue the present practice of releasing small numbers of National Service men from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force up to six months earlier when there are surpluses in their particular trades. The Army will need all their National Service men for the full two years.
§ Mr. de FreitasCan the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that men will not be retained for longer than they are needed? That is what is worrying people.
§ Mr. Orr-EwingI can give that assurance. I think that it is right that they should be released if they are surplus to requirements. That is being done, and was done last year.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes that mean that young men who are called up under the Act will not be allowed to opt for the Royal Air Force or the Royal Navy but will have to join the Army?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingThat position has been growing over the last few years because the numbers taken by the Royal Navy are very small. The numbers taken by the Royal Air Force are diminishing and the great bulk of National Service men are needed by the Army. There has been a diminishing choice, and that has been getting progressively more so over recent years.
§ 3. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the increase in the number of Regular recruits, he will advance the end of National Service by one year or reduce the period of service to 18 months.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingI have been asked to reply.
No, Sir.
§ Mr. ChetwyndWhy not? Is it a fact that the Army now has as many Regulars as it needs owing to the success of recruiting and that the men who have to train National Service men are finding difficulty in training Regulars at the same time'? In those circumstances, would not it be wise to do what I suggest in my Question?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingMy right hon. Friend announced earlier this year that as a result of successful recruiting, we would not be calling up men born in the last quarter of 1939. That reflects the success of the policy. We could not go further and yet carry out the nation's commitments, not only to our Allies, but throughout our Commonwealth as well.
§ Mr. ShinwellReverting to the previous Question, because this has a bearing on the Answer which the hon. Gentleman then gave, may I ask whether this action means that as long as the Act is in operation call-up in future will apply only to the Army? Is that what is intended?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingNo, Sir. I said that the bulk of people called up would go into the Army, but there would be still small numbers going to the Royal Air Force and to the Navy as well.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.