HC Deb 10 December 1946 vol 431 c209W
Mr. C. Smith

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of men between the ages of 18 and 30 years at 1st December, 1946, or the nearest convenient date; how many of these had served in the Forces; how many were still in the Forces; how many were medically unfit for service; and how many were deferred.

Mr. Isaacs

The estimated numbers of men aged 18 and under 30 in Great Britain are as follow:

1. Estimated total number in the age-groups (i.e. men born in 1917–1928) 4.200,000
2. Number who have served of are serving in the Forces 3,100,000*
3. Number of men unfit for military service 500.000
4. Number of men, fit for military service, still retained in industry 550,000†
5. Others who have not served in the Forces (Conscientious Objectors, Students, Ministers of Religion, etc.) 50,000
* The number in this age-group still in the Forces is not known precisely, but it is of the order of 1¼ millions.
† Nearly two-thirds of these men are in the coalmining, farming, shipping and building industries. The majority of the remainder are key men in the engineering and metal industries.

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