NATIONAL SERVICE (Particulars of applications for deferment)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister of Defence how many applications for deferment of National Service have been received since January, 1971, and how many of them have been (i) approved, and the circumstances for which approval was given; and (ii) rejected.

The Minister of Defence (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Sir, a total of 189 applications for deferment of full-time national service were received from 1st January, 1971, to 16th July, 1971. Applications for deferment generally fall under three main categories: namely, (1) social or financial hardship; (2) business disintegration; and (3) in the case of Government employees or employees of statutory boards, the exigencies of the service.

Fifty-four applications were approved on grounds of social or financial hardship, and 17 were rejected. Thirty-two applications were approved on grounds of business disintegration, and 22 were rejected. Forty-three applications received on grounds of the exigencies of the service were approved, while 21 were rejected.