§ 14. Mr. MORRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a circular issued to local recruiting authorities on 20th February urging that every endeavour should be made to secure that military representatives, Advisory Committees, and local tribunals are taking all possible steps to obtain men for the Army; whether he will say by whose authority this circular was issued; and whether, in spite of the fact that local tribunals were created by Parliament to exercise judicial functions, the Government propose that they ought to be classed with military representatives and Advisory Committees as an agency for obtaining men for the Army?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy hon. Friend will agree that it is the proper function of military representatives and Advisory Committees to obtain men for the Army. The position of the local tribunals is, of course, different, and the Army Council 1332 have not, and have not ever had any intention of endeavouring to turn local tribunals into agencies for obtaining men for the Army. Any such attempt would have been properly resented by the tribunals. My hon. Friend has presumably seen only an incomplete and partial presentation in the Press of the letter of the 20th February to which he refers. This letter was addressed to General Officers Commanding and explained the duties of certain officers appointed to work in co-operation with the staff of inspectors of recruiting. I think it is certainly the duty of the local military and recruiting authorities to place the facts completely before the tribunals just as much as applicants for exemption are entitled to state their case fully. The business of the tribunal is, as my hon. Friend observes, to exercise judicial functions, but it is essential that the military case shall be fully and properly presented and, if necessary, driven home.
§ Sir W. BYLESMay I ask whether the military representative is not practically dictating to the tribunals all over the country?
§ Mr. TENNANTI think my hon. Friend is mistaken. In cases in which the military representative on the Advisory Committee thinks no action should be taken in opposing a man's claim no action is taken.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWill the right hon. Gentleman say what business the Advisory Committees have in this matter at all?
§ Mr. TENNANTI answered my hon. Friend in the Debate the other day, and gave illustrations of what the Advisory Committees have been doing, but unfortunately my hon. Friend was unable to wait until I had spoken. It would be a great disadvantage if I had to repeat everything I said. The Advisory Committees have been of the greatest assistance, and no words can be too high in their praise.
§ 24. Mr. RADFORDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Islington local tribunal has refused exemption to a man who is now the only son of his widowed mother, his only brother having been killed in the War, and his mother being entirely dependent on him for her support; and whether he will issue directions to local tribunals that exemption should be granted in such cases?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy attention has not been drawn to the case referred to, and my hon. Friend's suggestion is one for the Local Government Board to consider. I believe that the local tribunals are administering the Act and Regulations both carefully and conscientiously. Any decision to which they may come is subject to the right of appeal.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Prime Minister stated that the tribunals would exempt the last remaining members of families?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am quite aware that the Prime Minister stated that. I am not aware that the tribunals have done differently.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the tribunals have announced that they will grant no total exemptions?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not aware of that.
§ 26. Mr. RADFORDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a man who had attested under Lord Derby's scheme and had been rejected was subsequently placed in Group 35, was subsequently informed that he must be examined again, that he was so examined at Chipping Norton and that his certificate of rejection was taken from him and retained, and that he was afterwards placed in Group 36; and whether he will take steps to prevent this man from being called up?
§ Mr. TENNANTI cannot identify the man simply as a man without particulars of his name. If my hon. Friend will give me adequate particulars inquiry can be made, and action, if found necessary, can be taken.
§ 105. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if applicants for exemption before the local tribunals may arrange for notes of the proceedings to be taken by friends, in view of the possibility of an appeal being lodged; and, in view of the action of the Manchester tribunal in ordering out of the room persons who were taking notes on behalf of applicants, if he will instruct the tribunals that this must be allowed?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)I am in communication with the local tribunal for Manchester on the subject.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the question, as to whether the local tribunals may arrange for notes of the proceedings to be taken by friends, in view of the possibility of an appeal being lodged?
§ Mr. LONGI do not think that I should be called' upon to express an opinion: This is not a matter dealt with either in the Act or in the Regulations, and it may very well be left to the tribunals to decide.
§ Mr. MORRELLWill the right hon. Gentleman issue a circular on the subject?
§ 99. Mr. CROOKSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Deptford tribunal, while considering their decisions, are, unlike the tribunals in Greenwich, Lewis-ham, and Woolwich, excluding the representatives of the Press, and, on being readmitted, the chairman merely informs the applicant as to the decision without giving any reasons; and whether he can approach the tribunal in question with a view to securing uniformity in procedure?
§ Mr. LONGThe Regulations provide that the local tribunal may exclude the parties and the public for the purpose of conferring upon any question affecting the decision of an application, and I do not think that it would be right to interfere with their discretion in this matter.
§ 101. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the result of his inquiry into the constitution of the local tribunal set up by the Pickering (Yorks) Rural District Council, which is composed wholly of farmers; and what action he has taken to secure a representative composition of the tribunal?
§ Mr. LONGThis matter is still under consideration. I am in communication with the local council on the subject.
§ 102. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the ease at the Lewisham tribunal of a man who, on claiming exemption from compulsory service on the ground that he was the sole support of three invalids, two sisters and a widowed mother, quoted the assurances of the Prime Minister; that he was told in reply that these assurances were not in the Act and that his appeal was refused; whether his attention has 1335 been called to the case of a grocer's assistant at Worthing, the only son and sole support of a widowed mother, whose appeal was refused, one member of the tribunal remarking that the exemption of this man would form a bad precedent when the cases of the married men came to be considered; and whether any further steps will be taken to ensure that tribunals carry out the expressed policy of the Government respecting sons who are the sole support of widowed mothers?
§ Mr. LONGMy attention has not been called to these cases. The local tribunals have a very difficult and ungrateful task to perform. Their duty is to administer the Act and the Regulations to the best of their ability, and I believe that they are generally fulfilling that duty faithfully and honestly. If they come to a decision which is thought to be improper the aggrieved party has the right to appeal.
§ 104. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will give instructions that forms for lodging an appeal against a decision of a local tribunal shall be on hand in the Court, seeing that instances have already arisen where considerable delay has occurred in applicants being able to obtain such forms from the clerks to the tribunal?
§ Mr. LONGIt is intended that each local tribunal should have a supply of forms on which appeals from their decisions may be made, and if any case is brought to my notice in which there has been difficulty in obtaining a form, I will take such steps as may be necessary.