§ 27. Mr. ANDERSONasked for what reason considerable numbers of people medicaly unfit for active service are being enlisted in the Army; what is the nature of the clerical duties they will be asked to undertake; and if steps are being taken to ascertain whether they would be rendering more responsible and important national service by remaining at their civilian duties?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo man is accepted for the Army unless he is considered medically fit to serve in some capacity. Men who are not fit for active service in the field may be fit for some other form of service equally essential to the Army, and on being called up they are classified according to their condition of fitness. At the present time men who are classified as fit only for garrison service at home or for sedentary or clerical duties are not required to join immediately, and are being sent back to their homes.
§ Mr. TENNANTNot unless they have done military service.
§ 28. Mr. ANDERSONasked whether men enlisted in the Army but medically unfit for active service will be subjected to drilling and training; and whether, in the case of the unfit as in the case of the fit, the cost to the nation will work out at from £250 to £300 per head per annum, irrespective of the loss involved by their withdrawal from productive industry?
§ Mr. TENNANTMen unfit for general service are at present being taken only if fit for certain forms of service, and such men are trained in the duties for which they are required. The figure £250 to £300 1338 which has been mentioned in another connection as the cost of the Army per head has no relevance to this question.