asked the Minister of Defence if he will state the meat, bacon, bread and sugar rations, respectively, for the Services as compared with those for civilians; and whether the same Service rations are given to both male and female personnel.

I will, with permission, circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The relationship between Service and civilian ration scales is kept under review by an Inter-Service Committee under Ministry of Food chairmanship; the Committee is at present considering what reductions should be imposed on the Services to correspond with recent civilian reductions.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask if he will add details of the potato ration to the list if they are not on it?

I will see if that can be done in time, but if not I will have it done separately.

Is it not a fact that Service rations are generally greater in quantity than those given to civilians?

I think it is necessary to study the table and to take into consideration the overall consumption of civilians, apart from the actual weekly ration, but we will do our best to obtain a fair adjustment in the matter.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent his regulations oblige deserters after apprehension and service of sentence of imprisonment, to fulfil their remaining Service obligations, in accordance with normal age and service conditions.

Time spent in desertion and periods of consequential imprisonment or detention do not count as service for release purposes. In August last we decided that in the case of non-Regulars service previous to desertion and service subsequent to detention or imprisonment including service under suspended sentence should count in full. This change placed National Service men serving under the earlier Acts in the same position in this respect as those to whom the First Schedule of the National Service Act, 1947, will apply.

Does that mean that after serving a sentence of imprisonment, if a man has another three or four years' service to complete, he will be required to fulfil that obligation?

I think he will be required to fulfil his obligation. In the case of National Service men called up during the last three or four years, subject to the period of detention or desertion, they are subject to the same rate of scale-off as the others who have been scaled off.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, with a view to obtaining a greater volume of surrenders by deserters, he will consider reforms whereby sentences of imprisonment be suspended subject to the good behaviour in accordance with Service obligations of the individuals concerned, such suspension to be translated into complete remission at the end of fulfilment of satisfactory Service obligations.

Sentences of imprisonment or detention for desertion are reviewed periodically and are frequently suspended after only part has been served. I could not agree to any general rule of suspension in such cases. I have already stated to the House the general objections to further leniency and it will be recognised that punishment must vary according to the seriousness of the offence.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his present policy is inconclusive and harsh and is not getting the desired results? Is he further aware that there were 17,500 deserters in March and 21,000 deserters in October, and that many of these men will be deserters and on the run at the age of 80 or 90 when they die?

I must resist the charge that we are being harsh in this matter. A very generous offer was made at the beginning of the year, and several thousand men took advantage of that leniency. All the men had that opportunity. I really must resist any attempt to weaken the general morale and discipline of the Forces.

Does my right hon. Friend consider that any useful purpose is served by hon. Members ventilating their opinions on this question, in view of the position as it is now disclosed?

Hon. Members have a perfect right to ventilate their opinions, but responsible Ministers must take into account the advice of those who have to deal with this matter.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the presence of 20,000 deserters in this country is resulting in an increase in crime, difficulty in carrying out regulations and a diminution in production, and that considerations of high public policy make it very desirable that an amnesty should be offered?

I do not consider that the facts justify my hon. Friend's suggestion. I understand the matter is to be raised on the Adjournment on Monday.

asked the Minister of Defence what are the categories of ex-Servicemen assumed to be on the Reserve; and at what date it is intended to cease this obligation; and what is the total number of men involved to the nearest convenient date.

In addition to the Regular reservists, who serve for specified periods, all officers and men who have left the Forces under the release scheme are still members of the Reserve. Their liability to recall will continue until the present emergency is declared to be at an end. The date of termination of the emergency has not yet been fixed. The number involved was about 3,900,000 on 30th September excluding those still on release leave.

In view of the considerable number of men involved, does not my right hon. Friend consider that these men could easily pick up the threads of their duties if there was an emergency, and would he not consider that as an argument in favour of further speedy demobilisation of the present Armed Forces?

All these relevant factors have been taken into consideration.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider, after the expiration of the period of emergency, king some plan whereby he could call these men to join a special section of the Reserve for a further considerable number of years?

I will make a note of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's suggestion.