§ 12. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for War how many married men with a wife and more than one young child are now doing their National Service in the Army; and if he will discharge such men on compassionate grounds.
§ Mr. SoamesI have told the hon. Member on a previous occasion that the information he wants could not be obtained without a search of individual records. Soldiers are released from National Service if their absence from home is causing undue hardship to their families.
§ Mr. AllaunCan the Minister deny that undue hardship is being caused when a mother, sometimes in her teens, is left alone to bring up two babies, as is happening; that in May the Government promised sympathetic consideration for men with one child in difficult home circumstances, and that this sympathetic consideration is not being given, even when there are two children and, therefore, far more difficult home circumstances?
§ Mr. SoamesThe difference between the hon. Member and myself on this point is that he has it in mind that the fact alone that a young man is married and has two children should of itself be grounds for excluding him from doing his National Service. I do not agree with that. On the other hand, however, we say that if the man can prove that to do his National Service would cause undue hardship to the family, he will be released. I believe that some 1,200 men have been so released in the past year when hardship has been shown to exist.
§ Mr. AwberyWill the Secretary of State now take the first step to abolish conscription by stopping the call-up of married men?
§ Mr. StracheyThe first step to abolish conscription was taken back in 1957, when it was decided to end it.
§ Mr. AllaunIn view of the unsatisfactory and, in my view, inhuman Answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.