HC Deb 15 March 1955 vol 538 c116W
Mr. Wigg

asked the Minister of Defence the period of compulsory military service, whole or part-time, in Commonwealth countries as at 1st March, 1955.

Mr. H. Macmillan

The following is the information:

Canada, India, Pakistan and Ceylon—No compulsory military service.

Australia

Navy and Air Force: 21 weeks'continuous training. Men remain on the reserve until the conclusion of 5 years from date of initial call-up.

Army: 14 weeks' continuous training followed by 21 days' training in each of the next two years. Men remain on the reserve until conclusion of 5 years from initial date of call-up.

New Zealand

Fourteen weeks' continuous training followed by 20 days'training in each of the subsequent three years. Thereafter men remain on the reserve for five years.

South Africa

Three months' continuous training followed by one month's training in each of the next three years. (Provision exists for a total of nine months' training, but at present only six months is carried out.)

Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

Northern and Southern Rhodesia: Four and a half months' continuous training followed by two weeks' annual camp in each of the next three years.

Nyasaland: No compulsory military service.