asked the Prime Minister whether he will announce the Government's intentions with regard to compulsory service in the post war armed Forces of the Crown.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member for Edinburgh West (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison) and the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) on I8th October, in which he said that this is a matter which can only be settled as part of His Majesty's Government's long-term defence policy as a whole. No decision can be taken until further progress has been made with the settlement of the world-wide problems resulting from the war.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to distinguish between the question of peacetime terms for the peace--time Army and the immediate announcement of terms for occupation Armies, which will, in any event, be largely derived from people who have been conscripted for this war?

I took it that this Question related to the future organisation of military forces for peacetime.