§ 82. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that no person of military age is entitled under the provisions of the Defence of the Realm Act to leave this country without a green application form of exemption is signed by a magistrate and approved by Lord Derby's Committee, he will say whether, when the senior Member for Merthyr Tydvil left this country to take a post on the commercial side of the Young 32 Men's Christian Association, an exemption from these Regulations was made in his favour; whether, in view of the Prime Minister's declaration that married men would not be called for service till the single men had been enlisted, he will say whether this undertaking covers single-men Members of this House; and, if not, why it does not do so?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhether the green form which the senior Member for Merthyr Tydvil no doubt presented at the Foreign Office Passport Office was in order or not would be a question, I think, to be answered by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. As regards the Prime Minister's declaration in regard to married men, I am not aware of any reason why single-men Members of this House should not be subjected to the operation of those other measures to which reference has frequently been made. If such other measures were adopted it would, of course, be for Parliament to say whether single-men Members of this House should be given any preferential treatment.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMCan my right hon. Friend answer the first part of the question? Is Lord Derby's Committee responsible for it?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo.