§ Mr. WILESasked the Minister of National Service if he is aware that a number of constables in the Manchester City Police have recently been compulsorily drafted into the Army without leave of appeal to a tribunal, and in some cases no calling-up papers being sent; and, if so, will he state the reason for this action and why, having regard to the fact that most of them are married men between thirty and forty years of age, he has not called up first the younger men in the same force who would certainly make much better soldiers?
§ Mr. BRACEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this Question. As part of the measures taken by the Government to provide more men for the Army the Chief Constable of Manchester has been requested to release a number of men from his force. All the men so released had a right to appeal. Nine of them have given notice of appeal and are still in the force pending the hearing of their cases. Calling-up notices were sent in all cases; in one case the notice was not received, but the constable concerned voluntarily joined up with the others. In selecting the men to be released the Chief Constable would no doubt take into consideration not only age and fitness, but also the question what men could best be spared from police duty. The majority of the men released are, however, under thirty, though most of the men now serving in the force are over thirty years of age, about 50 per cent. of the force—including nearly all the younger men—having already joined the forces.