§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for War why highly skilled men such as patternmakers are retained in the Army; why they have not been transferred from the infantry to technical units; why they are employed in officers' messes; and if he will make arrangements to discharge from the Army all skilled men retained in the infantry.
§ Mr. ProfumoNational Service men are only being retained in the Army for purely military duties. It is not always possible to employ a National Service man in his civilian trade, and they must then be placed where they can best fill the needs of the Army. For this reason I cannot agree to discharge from the Army all men retained in the infantry who also possess other skills.