§ 12. Mr. HOHLERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what are the steps that should be taken to secure that public utility companies, such as light railways and tramway companies, be left with a sufficient staff to maintain the necessary minimum service and fulfil their obligations, especially in naval, military, and munition centres, in cases in which large numbers of men essential to such a service have attested under Lord Derby's scheme; if the method is by appeal will he state precisely the method of appeal; and would he direct that the appellate tribunals and the recruiting officer should consider the needs of the service as a whole and, as far as possible, deal with the entire body of men attested without confining the inquiry to the men in any particular group?
§ Mr. TENNANTSkilled men in public utility services such as tramways, waterworks, etc., are not accepted for immediate enlistment. If such men have been attested for Army Reserve, Section B, under Lord Derby's scheme, a mark is made against their names in the Army register and they are not called up for military service unless their employers state that their services can be spared.
§ Mr. S. ROBERTSHave full instructions been issued to the local tribunals in regard to their powers of procedure in all cases?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have not myself seen the instructions which have been given, 178 but I think the answer is in the affirmative. If my hon. Friend will put down a question I will be glad to give him a more definite answer.