§ MR. ABEL SMITH (Hertfordshire, Hertford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War when the rule under which young men are discharged on reaching the age of twenty-one was first applied at the Small Arms Factory, Enfield; how many men have been discharged under it; and whether it is to be a permanent rule of the department.
§ MR. HALDANEThe rule is that boys reaching the age of twenty-one may be retained as men and paid as men if there are vacancies; if there are no vacancies they cannot be retained. Discharges under this rule had to be put in force on the 22nd February, 1908, and have affected nine persons.
§ MR. ABEL SMITHIs this a new rule?
§ MR. HALDANEreplied in the negative.