HC Deb 27 June 1916 vol 83 cc711-2
67. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked with regard to the recent regulations for tribunals under the Military Service Acts, whether he has observed that in Section 17 of the accompanying circular he has stated that among the cases of serious hardship in respect of which exemptions may be granted is that of a man whose future business or career would be ruined and the fruits of much effort and expenditure probably lost, whereas in the regulations, Section II. (1), the references to such cases are apparently limited to men having families; whether the circular properly indicates his recommendation; and whether the tribunals are to understand that among the cases in which they are authorised to grant exemption is that of a man, without family or dependants, whose business would be ruined and the fruits of much effort and expenditure lost?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

The Instruction in the Regulations was inserted in order to redeem the promise given in the course of the discussions on the recent Bill that the case of married men with dependants who were the sole heads of businesses should be specially referred to. Paragraphs 14 to 17 of the circular deal with a variety of cases of serious hardship with which the tribunals may have to deal. The circular expressly indicates that not all cases of serious hardship are covered by the words of the Instruction.