Disabled Personnel (Discharge)
45.
asked the Minister of Defence if he will arrange with the Service Ministers to retain in the Services and in uniform officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks, who are still undergoing plastic and other more or less continuous treatment for severe wounds and mutilation, having regard, particularly, to the bad psychological effect of discharging these men before their treatment is completed.
Personnel suffering from disabilities attributable to or aggravated by service are at present retained in the Services, in uniform, until medical or surgical finality is reached, within an overriding time limit of 4- years. I am glad to say that in future, however, such men will not be discharged from the Services until their treatment is completed, provided that there is a prospect of this within a predictable time.
May I take it that that means even if it is after 2½ years?
We shall not adhere to the 2½ year limit in future, but will keep men in the Service except in those cases where finality of the treatment is unpredictable.
Evt Text-Books
46.
asked the Minister of Defence if he will have investigations made about text-books now surplus to the requirements of the E.V.T. scheme in the Forces; and if he will make these books available for use in schools in this country.
Over 50,000 surplus E.V.T. text-books have already been provided for use by the Ministry of Education, and this practice will certainly continue.
Compulsory Service
47.
asked the Minister of Defence whether he will give an assurance that the Government's decision to reduce the period of fulltime compulsory military service laid down in the National Service Bill from 18 months to 12 months will not entail any men at present serving in the Forces, or about to be called up for service, remaining in the Forces for a longer period than would have been the case had the original term of 18 months been maintained.
Yes, Sir.
Has the Minister considered the question of the young lads being called up this year for two years' service, and is there a corresponding reduction proposed by the Government in their service?
The answer I have given is the only one which I can give at the present time.