asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of university students now serving in the Forces and in age and service groups above 62 have been nominated by their university for Class B releases before October this year; and on what grounds he refuses to grant their release.

The substance of this Question was answered by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 31st July, and I have nothing to add.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that his right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary denied that universities were applying for university students in age and service groups over 62? Is not that the whole point?

I am not aware that my hon. Friend denied that, but I understand the kind of answer which he gave. The fact is that we are not releasing anybody in groups above Group 62 for this purpose.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman remember that the reason given was that the unversities were supposed to be full? Does not the fact to which I have referred in this Question show that the universities are not full?

I can repeat to the hon. and gallant Member part of the answer which was given to him a little while ago. It was: The reasons which caused this concession to be limited to Groups 1 to 62 are not affected by the fact that the men in Group 62 are now likely to be released rather earlier than was expected. The universities have already far more applicants than places, and any extension of such releases would almost certainly mean that some men released in Class A would fail to obtain places."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 31st July, 1947; Vol. 441, c. 638–9.]