§ 47. Colonel YATEasked the Prime Minister whether, considering that the Military Service Act is now in force, His Majesty's Government will reconsider the decision come to at the commencement of the War under which all Civil servants who joined the Army were to lose nothing by doing so, so that men of military age in Government Departments may now be 1661 enabled to join the Army on the same terms as other men and at less expense to the State?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI do not think it would be equitable to reconsider the decision at the present time.
§ Colonel YATEWill nothing be done to facilitate the Civil servants of the State being permitted to join the Colours? Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that nothing will do the permanent Civil servants more good than a time in the trenches?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI have not yet met any Civil servants who are reluctant to go. On the contrary, most Civil servants are clamouring to be allowed to go, and all Civil servants are allowed to go who can be spared from their work. The system to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was inaugurated at the beginning of the War, and was followed by a large number of private employers. It would be most unjust to abolish it.
§ Colonel YATEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole system has been altered?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must remember that there are others besides himself who want to ask questions.