asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give an assurance that members of the R.A.F. who have attained 40 years of age and have served in the B.L.A. or elsewhere overseas will be exempt from being drafted to the Far East.

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the replies given to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. E. J. Williams) on 14th February last and to my hon. Friend the Member for Balham and Tooting (Mr. Doland) on 21st March.

Will the Minister bear in mind that it is prejudicial to the health of men of 40 years of age if they are sent overseas?

My hon. Friend will realise that the question of overseas postings is complicated, and I thought it wiser, after one day in office, to confine myself to the very lucid explanations given by my predecessor.