§ 21. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the tribunals have power to put back to later groups any clerk or person who in their opinion is urgently necessary for the carrying on of the business in which that clerk or person is now engaged, provided that such clerk or person is unfit for foreign service but fit for some sedentary occupation in the Army or at the War Office which occupation could be equally well filled by another man?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe answer is in the affirmative, but the tribunal must be definitely of opinion that it is expedient in the national interests that the individual should continue to be engaged in his civil employment.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether, if the tribunal considered that it was not in the national interest, but in the interest of business, that would be sufficient to meet the case?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir, I do not think it would.
25. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked whether men who have attested under Lord Derby's scheme, or since the introduction of the Military Service (No. 2) Bill, can now claim to be exempted from combatant duties before the local tribunals?
§ Mr. TENNANTPrimâ facie a man who has voluntarily attested cannot claim that he had a conscientious objection to combatant service. But if he wishes to obtain exemption from such service on conscientious grounds he should apply to the War Office, who will deal with each case on its merits.