§ 49. Mr. GWYNNEasked whether a single man who in December last applied under the Derby scheme for admission to the Naval Reserve but was rejected as medically unfit, and given a paper to that effect signed by a doctor and magistrate, is under any obligation to be re-examined for the Army, or whether he is exempt for further service?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIf the man applied through the Army group system and was rejected by the Army medical authorities, he is not subject to the Military Service Act, provided such proof of rejection as the hon. Member mentions is produced.
§ Mr. GWYNNEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether a rejection for the Navy or Royal Naval Reserve is for the purposes of the Military Service Act the same as a rejection for the Army?
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs there any difference between "rejected" and "not accepted"?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGENo, I understand not.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEAre we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that a man who is rejected but given no certificate comes within the Act?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEHe has to give the necessary proof of rejection.
§ 53. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that tribunals are showing no consideration to cases of men who are the last remaining members of their families; and whether he will take steps to prevent entire families being wiped out by casualties in the War?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI must remind my hon. Friend that in cases of doubt there is a right of appeal ultimately to the central appeal tribunal.
§ Mr. HOGGEWould it not save a great deal of trouble if the tribunals did as the Government said they were to do?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI understand they are doing so.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no right of appeal to the central tribunal except by permission?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)Perhaps I may reply on that point. There are two kinds of cases, as I told the House the other day. There are those under attestation. Attested men have an appeal to the central tribunal, and there is no middle court of appeal. In the other cases there is an appeal from the tribunal to the local tribunal court, which has been established now and is of a very high order all over the country. In these cases, it is true, an appeal from them to the central tribunal can only be with consent; but in the instructions which I have issued I have made it quite clear that in special cases that consent should be given.
§ 59. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the statement made at the Sheffield Tribunal by the military representative, Mr. A. C. Caporn, B.A., LL.B., that there was only one ground of total exemption before his tribunal, and that was "death"; and whether any steps will be taken to acquaint this military representative with the provisions of the Military Service Act, 1916?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)I am not aware of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend calls attention. I do not know whether the statement reported was in fact made. Instructions on the administration of the group and class system will be circulated to military representatives this week.
§ Mr. ANDERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter if I supply him with information in regard to this statement?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes.
§ Mr. ANDERSONI will supply the right hon. Gentleman with the information.
§ 60. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that when application was being made before the Sheffield Tribunal on behalf of the Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society for the exemption of their prime costs clerk, the military representative remarked that co-operators did not pay Income Tax; whether he is aware that a similar assertion was made by the military representative at the Chesterfield Tribunal on 23rd February; and whether steps will be taken to inform these military representatives that remarks which have no foundation in fact, and which can only be introduced in order to prejudice the issues, decrease public confidence in the impartiality of the tribunals, and render more difficult the smooth administration of the Military Service Act, 1916?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not aware of the circumstances mentioned by my hon. Friend. If irrelevant remarks are made it is for the tribunal to check them. Regulation No. 16 lays down very clearly that only questions relevant to the decision of an application may be raised. As I have just stated, the new book on the administration of the group and class systems will be circulated this week to military representatives and others concerned, and stress is laid in that book on the fact that all that is allowed is the presentation of evidence and the elucidation of facts relevant to the decision of an application. It is also pointed out that speeches or advocacy on the part of the military representative or on the part of an applicant are undesirable.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWill those instructions about to be issued be available for Members of Parliament?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir; I will see that they are.