§ 99. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of a clerk who claimed exemption before the City of London Tribunal on 6th March, on the ground that he had been rejected five times and was subject to epileptic fits, having had a fit whilst waiting to be examined at the headquarters of the Queen's Westminsters; whether, though the man's condition was known to the doctors, he was passed, his rejection paper which he had just received being recalled; that the man was refused exemption by the tribunal; whether the War Office has considered the human and economic waste involved in the wholesale recruitment of unfit persons; and what provision the War Office propose to make for them in view of the probability of their speedy physical collapse and consequent discharge from the Army?
§ Mr. TENNANTIf my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of this case, I will have it inquired into.
§ 100. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received any communication respecting the case of J. H. Bailey, No. 35, Wolseley Road, Lowfields, Sheffield; whether Army Form W3236 has been sent to this man, informing him that he is required for service on 9th March under Class No. S3; whether this man has three times presented himself for attestation and three times been rejected; that he holds a rejection certificate dated 16th November, 1915, and 1698 signed by A. Taylor, recruiting officer, Sheffield; that on presenting this certificate as recently as 2nd March he was informed by the Sheffield recruiting officer that the rejection certificate does not hold good; whether this man will be provided with his cancellation notice; or whether, being legally exempt from service under the Military Service Act, 1916, he should disregard future notices and warnings from the military authorities?
§ 119. Mr. MORRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will have inquiries made into the case of William Harrison of 11, Dall Street, Burnley, who has recently been enlisted under the Military Service Act, 1916, and, in particular, if he will ascertain whether this lad since the outbreak of war has offered himself voluntarily for enlistment four times, twice at Blackburn and twice at Burnley, and has each time been rejected as unfit; whether he is aware that on the last occasion, which was since the 14th August last, he received from the recruiting officer at Burnley a certificate of unfitness; that on or about 1st March he took this certificate to the same officer at the recruiting office at Bridge Street, Burnley, and asked for an armlet; that this certificate was then taken from him and orders given him to go and report himself at Burnley Barracks; and that on his going there he was at once taken on as a recruit without further examination; whether at this time he was still under a doctor's care suffering from a serious complaint and general weakness, so that he had not been able to do any work for the past two weeks; and whether the War Office will take any steps in the matter?
§ 121. Sir WALTER ESSEXasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why Mr. W. H. Rebbeck, of Stafford, who was certified by a military doctor as medically unfit for service in July, 1915, and again, on his own application, on 4th November, 1915, was once more certified as unfit and given a certificate to that effect, has since been summoned to submit himself to a further examination?
§ Mr. TENNANTInquiries shall be made into these three cases.