§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour to set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number deferred from National Service during the last five years and during the current year and the number of coal mining workers, students, apprentices, pattern making apprentices in all materials, tool makers, and the numbers of skilled men called up for the forces, all for the same years, respectively.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe answer to the first part of the Question is as follows:
1951 … … 105,000 1952 … … 125,000 1953 … … 118,000 1954 … … 120,000 1955 … … 117,000 1956 (to 30th June) … 47,000 I regret that information on an occupational basis regarding the numbers of men called up is not available.
Notes
- 1. The figures are estimates and exclude short period deferments granted to boys at school. Statistics to show the total number of deferments granted are not maintained, but counts of the numbers of current deferments are taken twice yearly (see tables on page 174 of Ministry of Labour Gazette for May, 1956).
- 2. There were five registrations in 1952, and only three registrations in 1955, but as the
118 last registration in 1954 was as late as 18th December the number of deferments in 1955 in effect relates to four registrations. There are to be three registrations in 1956 in March, July and November. - 3. Nearly all deferments for university etc. students (estimated as 11,500 for the current year) are applied for and granted during the autumn at the beginning of the academic year, and would be included in the second half of 1956.