§ 7. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men have so far been compelled 365 to serve an additional six months; how many are married; and how many are married with children.
§ Mr. ProfumoNone, Sir.
§ Mr. AllaunI am delighted to hear that Answer. Does this mean that, as should be the case, National Service men with wives, whether they have children or not, are being almost automatically exempted from the further six months call-up? If so, the right hon. Gentleman will deserve considerable thanks and praise.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe hon. Gentleman must have misunderstood me. He asks me in his Question "how many National Service men have so far been" retained. As I have explained on numerous occasions, no National Service men will be retained until April, although a number of those who are serving in B.A.O.R. have already been warned.
§ Mr. AllaunIn that case, how many have been given notice that they are to be retained?
§ Mr. ProfumoThat is another question, but I am perfectly prepared to answer it. The answer is 3,628 so far.
§ Mr. KershawMy right hon. Friend has mentioned the position of reservists serving with the British Army of the Rhine. Can he say anything about the position of reservists other than those who are in the B.A.O.R.?
§ Mr. ProfumoYes. National Service men who will be serving in B.A.O.R. on 1st April or who are due to move there must consider themselves liable to be retained. I shall not need to retain any other National Service man whose release date falls before 1st August.
§ Mr. WadeIn view of the anxiety felt by a number of wives of married National Service men, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that as much notice as possible will be given so that they will be relieved of uncertainty?
§ Mr. ProfumoYes. I have been making every possible effort to this end, including having warned all those people before the Bill became law. We will continue to do this. I am happy to tell the House that already the appeals system has started to work.
§ Mr. AllaunAs the right hon. Gentleman has the information there, can he tell us how many of the 3,600-odd are married men?
§ Mr. ProfumoI cannot without difficulty give the hon. Gentleman the answer to that question, but the total number of married men serving in B.A.O.R. at the end of January was 3,233, out of a total of about 9,000 National Service men. That is the nearest figure I can give him.