59. Mr. T. WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the officials of Labour Exchanges are informing men of military age who have been engaged on work for the Government that before they can be engaged or sent to other work for the Government they must get the sanction of the recruiting officer for the district; and whether this is done with the sanction of his Department?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Harcourt)There is no general requirement of this kind, but the condition mentioned by my hon. Friend is attached to certain vacancies for labouring work at Sheffield, in which it is desired to place attested married men in Groups 44 to 46. The applicants must be physically fit for heavy work.
Mr. WILSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that whatever age these men are, whether forty-one or twenty-one, they are told that they must have the sanction of the recruiting officer of the district before they can be engaged?
§ Mr. HARCOURTThis was the case of attested married men of the particular class I have named.