§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Minister of Labour whether he will define the position of those firms who, undertaking to replace a man who has been called up, now find that the first and second substitutes for the original man thus called up are equally, in view of woman conscription, now being summoned to the Colours; and whether the undertaking to replace the called-up worker only holds good with regard to the original man, or to all three of them?
§ Mr. BevinSub-section (1) of Section 14 of the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, requires employers to reinstate persons called up for service. No distinction is made in the Act between original and subsequent holders of a post, but the proviso to the Sub-section safeguards an employer against being required to reinstate a former employee when, owing to a change of circumstances, reinstatement is not reasonably practicable. The interpretation of these provisions is a matter for the Courts, and my hon. Friend will appreciate that I am therefore unable to do more than draw attention to the statutory provisions.