§ MR. ARTHUR LEEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is in his power, by administrative order and without fresh legislation, to revise the conditions of enlistment in the Special Reserve; and, if so, will he consider the advisability, in the interests of the State, of raising the purchase price of a discharge from £3 to a figure which would recoup the Exchequer for the expenditure uselessly incurred in training, clothing, and supporting for six months men who only join the Reserve in order to tide over a period of temporary unemployment, and with the intention of cancelling their liability to further service at the earliest opportunity.
§ MR. HALDANEThere is at present no evidence that any appreciable number of men join with the intention which the hon. Member suggests. He may rest assured that if experience proves that the question arises, it will be fully considered. The figure of £3 is not statutory.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEBut did not the right hon. Gentleman hold out special inducements to the unemployed who wished to tide over the winter to join the Special Reserve?
§ MR. HALDANECertainly not, unless they were fit men.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEDid you not suggest that these men should take employment over the winter, and then have no further liability?
§ MR. HALDANENo, on the contrary, the further liability was carefully set out.