HC Deb 26 June 1916 vol 83 cc529-30
86. Captain DOUGLAS HALL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will consider the case of those men of military age who come under the Military Service Act and have been certified as physically poor, and cause arrangements to be made so that such men can be definitely informed as to whether they will be required in the Army or not, so that they can know what to do about finding civil employment, seeing that under existing conditions this is almost impossible for them to obtain owing to the uncertainty of their position, which causes serious hardship?

Mr. TENNANT

The present arrangements for dealing with men found unfit for service by the Recruiting Medical Board have been drawn up with the express purpose of obviating the alleged hardship. Recruits rejected at the primary military examination as being unsuited to any form of military service, i.e., not likely to be fit within six months, are given a certificate and exempted from service. Recruits who are not likely to be fit for service within a month are sent back to their homes reverted to the Army Reserve Class B. Each man after examination by the Medical Board is given a certificate showing him in which category he has been placed, and is informed whether men of that category are being taken for service or not. Should their service be required in the future they will be given as much notice as possible. At present there is no intention of calling up men relegated to the Reserve after medical examination, but what may happen in the future is impossible to foretell.

Mr. ANDERSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that cases are repeatedly happening where men are actually called out and on presenting themselves finally are sent back to their homes indefinitely after giving up their businesses or employment; and, in that case, does the War Office accept any financial responsibility towards the men who have given up their businesses?

Mr. TENNANT

Of course, I cannot pretend that mistakes have not arisen; inevitably they must in dealing with such vast numbers of men. I cannot hold out any hope that my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary will accept responsibility.