§ 90. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in accordance with his recent statement regarding medical re-examination, full instructions have yet been issued to recruiting officers to proceed along the lines of that statement in deciding which rejected men are to be required to undergo medical re-examination; and, if not, will be forthwith issue such instructions and take steps to ensure that recruiting officers shall act in 1222 accordance with them and with the numerous pledges given to Parliament regarding medical re-examination?
§ Mr. FORSTERFull instructions were, of course, issued on this matter to the recruiting authorities, and I may also inform my hon. Friend that within the last week further instructions have been issued pointing, out that complaints have been received that men obviously permanently unfit have been summoned for re-examination by medical boards, and attention has been directed to the relevant portions of the instructions previously issued. They have, moreover, been reminded that discretionary power in this matter must be exercised in suitable cases, on production of documentary or other evidence of a satisfactory kind. I will ask my hon. Friend also to take into account the fact that last year recruiting authorities were overwhelmed with work, with the inevitable result that in many parts of the country full records of what happened do not exist.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan we now assume that all the recruiting officers have received these instructions?
§ Mr. FORSTERI think that will be quite a safe assumption.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the hon. Gentleman account for recruiting officers when they are approached regarding this matter saying that any statement by Mr. Lloyd George in Parliament is of no account to them?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, and I find great difficulty in believing it.