§ 25. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, among the now many badges, he can see his way to give some distinguishing badge to men of military age who have tried their utmost to enlist but who have failed for physical reasons and who are thereby subjected to petty annoyance?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe Army Council do not see their way to adopt this suggestion. The clerical labour involved in tracing all these men, in examining their bona fides and establishing their identity would be enormous, and both the labour and the expense involved could, it is thought, be demoted with greater advantage to other objects. At the same time my hon. Friend will not take me as indicating that men of the category he mentions do not deserve sympathy if they are subjected to petty annoyance. My information, however, is that the number of persons who haye been and are subjected to any annoyance is very small. It is now, I believe, universally known and appreciated that under the Military Service Acts all men physically fit for military service in its varied forms are at the disposal of the State. Any annoyance there has been in the past has now ceased.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when a recruiting officer turns a man down for medical reasons he has got to do certain things and register the fact; and how would it involve any more work to give a man a badge?
§ Mr. FORSTERAccording to the form of the hon. Gentleman's question, it is to apply to everybody declined since the outbreak of war.