§ Mr. Cooperasked the Minister of Labour if he has any statement to make about the arrangements for the suspension of call-up of men who enter coal mining after the date on which they were due to register for National Service.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodYes. As the planned end of call-up is now less than two years away I have thought it right to modify the arrangements under which men who enter certain coalmining occupations after they are due to register for National Service may have their call-up suspended so long as they remain so employed. Accordingly these special arrangements will not apply to men born in the third quarter of 1939 who were due to register on 10th January last. Men born in that quarter will only have their call-up suspended if they were already in one of the coalmining occupations concerned when they were due to register, or if they subsequently enter one of those occupations as Directed Practical Trainees, as National Coal Board Scholars or as ex-apprentices engaged in a capacity in which their skill will be used. The position of men horn on or before 30th June, 1939, is unaffected as are the existing deferment arrangements for men already56W in the industry. These modified arrangements have been discussed with and are acceptable to the National Coal Board.