40. Sir C.KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that thousands of men of military age have entered munition factories with the object of escaping military service; and will he see that these men are given the opportunity to enlist before married men are taken?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe question of single men of military age who have entered munition factories, not with the primary object of assisting the supply of munitions to the Army, but rather with the object of escaping military service, is receiving the careful consideration of the Government as a whole and of the Ministry of Munitions in particular. It would be impossible to give an undertaking that every single man in a munition factory will be taken for military service before any married men are taken, but the Government is fully alive to the importance of the subject raised by the hon. Member.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEHow are the Government to determine the intentions of the young man when he enters a munitions factory?
§ Mr. TENNANTI agree it is not very easy to discover motives in any case, but I would refer the hon. Member to the communiqué issued to the Press to-day.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill the War Office ascertain what influence the relatives of a young man have?
§ Mr. W. THORNEAnd their station in life?