§ Sir J. Smedley Crookeasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the 1516W considerable number of men between the ages of 45 and 60who are unable to find employment, he will consider the advisability of carrying out a scheme whereby young men now employed in Government Departments, such as the Post Office, could be released for Defence services and the elder unemployed men take their places?
§ Captain CrookshankI have been asked to reply. Civil servants up to the age of 25, and in the case of certain grades up to the age of 35, are eligible to enrol in the various Auxiliary Defence Services which involve part-time training in peace time, and persons so enrolling would be released from civil duty in an emergency. These arrangements do not, however, involve any need for peace-time replacement.
As regards compulsory measures, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Prime Minister's announcement in the House of Commons on the 26th April.