HC Deb 15 April 1959 vol 603 cc1030-2
42 and 43. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will exempt from National Service the sons of widowed mothers living alone or with young children;

(2) If he will exempt from National Service men who are married with a young child or children.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I have no power to exempt men from their liability under the National Service Acts. Any man may apply for his call-up to be postponed on the grounds that it would cause exceptional hardship, and I can assure the hon. Member that such applications from men in the circumstances mentioned are very sympathetically considered.

Mr. Allaun

Is it not utterly wrong that application for postponement on hardship grounds are being turned down even though the widows are elderly, unwell and in a highly nervous state? Particularly in view of the increased numbers of recruits, will the Minister reconsider the question of exempting entirely these two categories?

Mr. Macleod

No. I have said I have no power to exempt them. If the hon. Member or any other hon. Member wishes to bring to my notice one or two individual cases, I shall consider them, but in fact the number of applications for deferment on hardship grounds has been going up steeply since I amended the Regulation a little time ago. I doubt if this is a very real problem. I think that in almost all these cases deferment has been granted.

Mr. Lee

Is it a fact that there is now a reservoir of people to be called up which is bigger than the requirements of the Forces? If that is so, will the Minister consider bringing before the House new categories which he will agree could be deferred?

Mr. Macleod

I doubt if in fact we are in that position. It is only a month ago that the Minister of Defence and I came to the conclusion that we could reasonably allow our last reserve, the fourth quarter of 1939, to be assured that they would not be called up. We have not sufficient numbers in hand to meet the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

Mr. Gower

Will my right hon. Friend pay particular attention to the position of unemployed sea-going men because, in spite of the assurance he gave me some time ago, it seems that some of them are being made available for military service although they are ready to go to sea but cannot obtain ships?

Mr. Macleod

I think I had better refer the hon. Member to my supplementary answer. If he likes to bring a special case to my notice, I shall consider it.

Mr. Allaun

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.