§ Mr. Powellasked the Minister of Labour how many persons there were whose deferment of call-up by reason of apprenticeship expired in each of the last three years or similar convenient periods; and how many of them have actually been called up.
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe relevant statistics are not maintained on the basis of the year on which deferments expire but on the basis of the position of men in the various age groups at particular dates. They are as follows:
1929 class (registration completed in September, 1947) Number deferred for apprenticeship on 5th December, 1947 42,700 Number remaining deferred on 5th October, 1951 600 1930 class (registration completed in December, 1948) Number deferred for apprenticeship on 25th March, 1949 55,400 Number remaining deferred on 5th October, 1951 5,900 1931 class (registration completed in December, 1949) Number deferred for apprenticeship on 31st March, 1950 60,100 Number remaining deferred on 5th October, 1951 41,000 Except for a negligible number of special cases (e.g., conscientious objectors or men granted postponement on grounds of exceptional hardship), all those originally deferred and not shown above as still on deferment have gone into the Forces unless medically unfit.