§ 72. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Labour to what extent he proposes to revise the rules for the National Service call-up of farmworkers; how many young farmers and farm workers were called up in 1952; and what are the probable figures for 1953.
§ Mr. WatkinsonMy right hon. and learned Friend proposes to discontinue calling up men in Medical Grade III employed in agriculture and to introduce greater flexibility in dealing with stockmen. As the details of the latter change are rather involved, I am circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The answer to the second part of the Question is 8,224 and to the third that it may be in the region of 6,000.
Following is the statement:
In future, applications for the deferment of the calling up of stockmen will be eligible for consideration where the man, although not (as required up to the present) working substantially full-time in connection with stock, is, either throughout the year or for a not inconsiderable part of the year, spending substantially more than half his time on such work. It is not desired to lay down any hard and fast line as to the meaning in this connection of "substantially more than half his time" but cases where the man is, throughout the year or during the part of the year in question, as the case may be, spending less than about 70 per cent. of his time on work in connection with stock, will not normally be eligible for consideration.