§ 96. Mr. Lowasked the Minister of Labour at what he estimates the total number of men who will register for National Service during the financial years 1950–51, 1951–52 and 1952–53, respectively; and whether he will state in detail, including the number of unfit, deferred and postponed, how these totals are related to the figures shown in paragraph 27 of Command Paper No. 7895 (Statement on Defence, 1950).
§ Mr. IsaacsOwing to the inevitable time lag between registration for National Service and availability for calling up, the number of men available for calling up
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 Numbers due to register in the relevant age class. 292,000* (1932 Age Class) 277,000* (1933 Age Class) 285,000* (1934 Age Class) Men who may be granted deferment:— Agricultural workers, coalminers and seamen 32,000 29,000 29,500 Apprentices 70,000 70,000 71,000 Students 8,000 7,500 8,000 Men who may be granted postponement on grounds of exceptional hardship, conscientious objectors, etc. 3,000 2,500 2,500 Wastage after registration (largely men who volunteer for the Services after registration). 12,000 11,500 11,500 Medically unfit for service 35,000 32,500 33,500 160,000 153,000 156,000 Immediate yield from registrations 132,000 124,000 129,000 Men from earlier age classes available for calling up on expiry of deferment, postponement, etc.— 45,000 57,000 57,000 Total numbers likely to be available for calling up 177,000 181,000 186,000 * The numbers due to register in the respective Financial Years are slightly different as follows:
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 288,000 279,000 285,000 The above estimates are based on the latest available information but must be regarded as approximations only. The numbers who may be granted deferment, in particular, cannot be predicted with any great degree of accuracy.