asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if he will ensure, as far as possible, that National Service men who were engaged in agriculture shall be posted as near home as possible, in order that they may help on the land during their weekend leaves.

No. It is essential that National Service men, once trained, should be available for duty in any part of the world. The arrangement suggested by my hon. Friend would tend to restrict their employment. It would, in addition, be inequitable to give particular individuals such preferential treatment.