HC Deb 08 February 1949 vol 461 c30W
Mr. Law

asked the Minister of Defence if in view of the difficulty in obtaining crews for fishing trawlers and of the importance of the work in connection with home supplies of food as well as from the point of view of national defence, he will consider the possibility of granting exemption from National Service to men who have completed more than three months' training in the industry as is done in the case of the main group of agricultural workers.

Mr. Isaacs

I have been asked to reply. No. I have no power to grant anyone exemption from his liabilities under the National Service Acts, and it is not the Government's policy to allow deferment of call-up on industrial grounds except in the two basic industries of coalmining and agriculture.