HC Deb 16 February 1939 vol 343 cc1918-20W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Labour why, in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations (Provisional), the restriction on age is 35 in the case of those employed in the retail distributive trades, as against 30, and under, in almost every other occupation?

Mr. E. Brown

The age-limit in this as in other cases was settled by reference to the estimated need for retaining essential personnel. I should mention that certain representations, relating particularly to the age-limits for women, are under consideration.

Sir P. Hurd

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, seeing that the phraseology of departmental publications as to the national voluntary service scheme is unfamiliar to farmers and farm-workers, he will state in plain language what is the position of farm-workers under the scheme both as regards reservation and part-time service?

Sir J. Anderson

Under the provisional Schedule of Reserved Occupations, farmers and farm-workers are generally reserved at the age of 25: for certain types of worker, the age of reservation is 30: these include horse trainers, stud grooms and stallion men; ditchers, drainers, drowners and hedgers; hay-cutters, trussers, balers and strawbinders. This means in plain language that farm-workers below the ages indicated, may enrol for any form of national service even though it would become whole-time service in war. Those of, or above, the ages specified should not enrol for service which would become whole-time service in war, as their service on the land would be of vital importance to the country, but they are free to enrol for any form of part-time service which may be required in their several localities. It will be understood that the Schedule offers no bar to any man enlisting now in any of the Regular forces for which he may be eligible, and that it is not contemplated that persons employed in reserved occupations, who may already have entered into some obligation for full-time war service, for example, a Territorial, should now relinquish that obligation.

Imports into the United Kingdom consigned from
Period, Germany. Czecho-Slovakia. Other Countries.
Quantity. Declared Value. Quantity. Declared Value. Quantity. Declared Value.
Dozen Pairs. £ Dozen Pairs. £ Dozen Pairs. £
1938.
September 13,836 5,881 10,515 3,697 1,746 636
October 7,807 3,199 4,582 2,102 1,446 489
November 7,435 3,013 7,825 3,069 1,145 485
December 5,653 2,327 6,153 1,418 2,593 650
Year† 313,444 141,303 155,800 63,749 38,964 13,045
*The particulars relate to gloves wholly or partly cut out of fabric containing cotton, and sewn up (but not including gloves known as astrachan gloves or gloves in which the fabric containing cotton is present in the lining only, or gloves made partly of leather), and fabric containing cotton shaped for making into or lining gloves.
† Provisional figures.

Wing-Commander Wright

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will immediately introduce some modification of the reserved occupations list in industrial areas, such as Birmingham and Coventry, where a very high percentage of volunteers for the local Territorial and Auxiliary units is being rejected on grounds of occupation?

Sir J. Anderson

My attention has already been drawn to this matter, which will be carefully considered in consultation with my colleagues who are concerned. My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that important considerations are involved of the proper allocation of man-power on which it would be most undesirable to reach any hasty decision.