SECRET.
EXECUTIVE BOARD .
Paper for discussion on Wednesday, January 8th, 1941

Ministry's Position in the matter of Reservation and Deferment under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939.

1. Owing to (a) the fact that men of the higher age groups are now being called up. (b) the raising of the age of reservation of a number of occupations with which the Ministry is concerned (c) the expansion of the publicity activities of the Ministry, the question of reservation or deferment of key men is presenting serious problems in several directions. The Ministry is being called upon increasingly to support applications for reservation or deferment, or to show good reason why it is unable to do so. So far the matter has been handled divisionally and it has seldom been necessary to submit points of policy. Recent approaches by Mr. Will and by the D.G., B.B.C., have indicated that Ministerial intervention may be required, and it is thought desirable to submit a statement of the present position.

2. By agreement with the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Information, as the Department principally concerned with the Press and Publicity, deals with questions of reservation and deferment of calling up for military service of men engaged in work of this kind. The main categories dealt with are:-

1. B.B.C.

2. Press, (Newspapers, periodicals, news agencies and news photographic agencies).

3. Films, (Newsreels and propaganda).

3. Reservation is operated through the Schedule of Reserved Occupations on an occupational basis. The Schedule is subject to frequent alteration to meet the changing demands for manpower. Proposals to alter the Schedule are dealt with by the Schedule Committee, which is a sub Committee of the Manpower Priority Sub Committee of the War Cabinet. The Chairman of the latter is Mr. Ralph Assheton and of the former Mr.J.S. Nicholson, a Principal Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Labour.

4. Deferment is a procedure for delaying for a fixed or an indefinite period the calling up for military service of men who are either not subject to reservation by virtue of their occupation, or who are below the age of reservation. Applications for deferment must establish to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Labour that the man concerned is indispensable for “work of vital national importance”. The normal maximum period granted is 6 months.