§ 81. Mr. Loughlinasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that many married men, being declared redundant in the coal industry and hitherto exempt from National Service, will suffer hardship if called up for National Service; and if he will grant indefinite postponement of call-up in these cases.
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§ Mr. HeathAny such man can apply for postponement if he considers that his call-up would cause exceptional hardship, and his application will be carefully considered in the light of the individual circumstances.
Arrangements have, however, already been made for men (both married and single) who have worked for several years in the mines, and who become redundant owing to closures, to have their cases looked at specially if they are within two years of the upper age limit; normally, these men will not be called up for National Service.
§ 82. Mr. Loughlinasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, as the result of redundancies in the coal industry, many men hitherto exempt from National Service, are now subject to the call-up, and that consequent delays in their being called to the forces result in their continuing unemployment; and what steps he will take to ensure the minimum hardship in these cases.
§ Mr. HeathSuch men, unless they ask to be called up without delay, are given six weeks in which to seek other employment in coal mining, and if, at the end of that time, they have not re-entered the industry, steps are taken to call them up quickly.