§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether decisions have now been made on
- (a) the period of service in the armed forces of boys who join at 15 and 16 years of age; and
- (b) the procedure for conscientious objectors within the forces.]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, with the leave of the House I shall repeat, at a convenient moment after 3.30 p.m., a Statement which my honourable friend the Minister of Defence for Administration will be making in another place.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, as my noble friend has indicated he will be making a Statement, I will reserve my supplementary questions until then.
§ BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEYMy Lords, could the noble Lord say whether the contracts of service of girls will be similar to those of boys?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I cannot quite hear the noble Baroness. Perhaps it is the lights.
§ BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEYMy Lords, I was asking the noble Lord whether the contracts of service will be 910 similar for girls as for boys, because I believe some girls join at about 16 or 17.
LORD SHACKLITONMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for giving me advance notice of the supplementary question she is going to ask.