§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange that candidates for commissions in the Army may 988 if they wish it, by paying a special fee to cover the cost, be officially examined as to their medical fitness before undergoing the competition?
§ * THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) Hanley(who replied) said: A very full statement of the physical conditions required of candidates for the Army has been prepared, and may be obtained by candidates on application to the War Office. With that statement before him, any qualified surgeon will be able to inform candidates whether they are likely to pass the medical examination. It is therefore unnecessary, even if it were practicable, to authorise any official medical examination of candidates before the examination which follows successful competition for commissions.
§ MR. BARTLEYIs it not a fact that there is a considerable number of cases in which young men who have passed the examination have been subsequently excluded in consequence of physical unfitness? Would it not be more considerate to the candidates to allow them to be examined before they go in for training, so as to enable them to avoid a disaster which in some cases means a loss of many years to them.
§ * MR. WOODALLThe hon. Member is aware that the matter had been recently under discussion in that House, and I am unable to add anything to the answer I have given.