§ Mr. MILLARasked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that applicants belonging to the professional and business classes who have applied to the Ministry of National Service for work of national importance have had their services declined; and whether he proposes to take any steps to utilise the services of applicants, who may not have the necessary physique to enable them to undertake work in the shipyards and munition works, in connection with other work of national importance suitable to their training and qualifications, and wherever possible to substitute them for men of military age at present engaged in such work?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy hon. Friend is incorrect in supposing that these offers of service have been declined. Special arrangements have been made for dealing with this by means of the professional and business register maintained by the Minister of Labour, in order that advantage may be taken of such offers to fill substitution or reinforcement vacancies of a suitable character. Directors of National Service in regions under the decentralisation proposals of the Ministry of National Service will ill make the fullest possible use of this register. In this way it is hoped that fuller use may be made of the public-spirited offers of service of the character indicated.