§ Dr. Segalasked the Minister of Labour how many Class B releases have been refused by men serving in the Forces during the last quarter of 1945 and the first quarter of 1946, respectively; and what percentages these figures constitute of the total Class B releases for these periods.
Mr. Ness Edwards, in pursuance of his reply[OFFICIAL REPORT, 4th April, 1946, Vol. 421, C. 1396],supplied the following statement:
The information is not available in respect of the Army as the War Office records do not distinguish between cases where the man concerned refuses release and where release is not offered, for example, because he is due for early release in Class A. The number of refusals of release in Class B by men in the Royal Navy and R.A.F. during the last quarter of 1945 was 17,732; and during January and February, 1946, (the latest months for which information is available) 12,156. The numbers of men released from the Navy and R.A.F. during the same periods were 22,102 and 16,053 respectively. In offering release in Class B under the block release arrangements the Service Departments allow for anticipated refusals and, within the limits of the number of men available, make as many offers as are considered necessary to secure the required number of releases in each occupation.