§ 35. Mr. WINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Members of the House of Commons are receiving many letters from parents of soldiers under nineteen years of age protesting against their sons being sent abroad before reaching that age; and will he take steps that such soldiers are kept for Home duties until such age where parents express such desire?
§ Mr. TENNANTI made a full and, of course, authoritative statement on all aspects of this matter in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn on the 2nd November. I would take the liberty of referring my hon. Friend to that answer.
§ Mr. WINGIs my right hon. Friend aware that I have brought to his notice several cases of youths under nineteen years of age, and in no case has he released any?
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the official age of the soldier is always taken as the final age by the military authorities, no matter what evidence may be brought forward showing his real age?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir; I have always stated in this House the age of a man is always taken according to what his physical fitness is. If he says he is nineteen when he is only sixteen, then, if he is serving in this country, he would be released. If he is seventeen he would be allowed to serve, and to go abroad if necessary when his physical abilities were those of a man of eighteen and a half; but until that time he is not liable.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEThen he may be abroad at the age of seventeen?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, he may.