§ Captain Stricklandasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the great shortage of skilled men in war production work, he will consider the release from military obligations of all such men of low category of the volunteer and reservist classes as are approved after application has been made for them?
§ Mr. SandysAs has been stated on previous occasions, my right hon. and gallant Friend is always willing to consider the temporary release of individual men from the Army where a sufficiently strong case is made out and it is supported by the Government Department directly concerned and by the Ministry of Labour and National Service. I am afraid that it would not be practicable to give special facilities to men of low medical category1140W who are either volunteers or reservists, as many of these men are employed in the Army on duties of the highest importance. I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that large numbers of skilled men were discharged from the Territorial Army at the beginning of the war and a number of reservists were not called up on account of their value to industry.