HC Deb 23 January 1951 vol 483 cc14-5W
Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

asked the Minister of Labour what are the circumstances in which young men who have served in the Merchant Navy are exempted from National Service on leaving the Merchant Navy.

Mr. Bevan

Service in the Merchant Navy does not exempt a man from liability to be called-up under the National Service Acts. Men born before 1929 whose call-up was deferred in December, 1946, because they were employed in the Merchant Navy are, however, among those excluded from the call-up field under the terms of the White Paper on Call-up to the Forces in 1947 and 1948 (Cmd. 6831). With the exception of men who served in the Merchant Navy as boys during any period before the end of hostilities, those born in 1929 or later who leave the Merchant Navy before reaching 26 years of age are, subject to medical fitness, called-up.

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