§ 50. Mr. BOYTONasked whether in many of the Government Departments, and particularly in the Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue, many Civil servants who desire to join His Majesty's Forces have been refused permission to do so?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHeads of public Departments are empowered to grant permission to Civil servants to join His Majesty's Forces whenever they are satisfied that no serious detriment to the public service will result. It is clearly not in every case possible in the public interest to give such permission. About 1,000 members of the Valuation Department have been given permission to join the Army.
§ Colonel YATEHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the offer which was made for retired Civil servants to take the place of the younger men going to the front so as to allow a larger number to go?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, that has been considered.