§ 24 and 25. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for War, (1) how many National Service men in the Army are married with a child or children;
(2) how many National Service men in the Army are the sons of widows living alone or with young children.
§ Mr. SoamesAbout 21,000 National Service men in the Army are married, but information about their children could 1260 not be obtained without a search of individual records. I have no data at all on the second question.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the Minister aware of the domestic tragedies arising particularly where a seventeen or eighteen year old mother and her baby are left alone? As certain classes of teachers have recently been exempted or released, would he seriously consider doing the same for these two categories? Does he appreciate the widespread feeling of injustice that such men are being called up when certain celebrated gentlemen are not?
§ Mr. SoamesI cannot agree with the premise of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. I do not think that we shall ever get to the point where, as a category, National Service men whose mothers happen to be widows will, because of that fact, be relieved from National Service or allowed out on compassionate grounds. If by virtue of the fact that the mother is a widow there is definite hardship, and that is shown, a man is allowed out. Indeed, last year, 1,200 National Service men were allowed out on compassionate grounds alone.