§ 89. Sir H. CRAIKasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many suitable men have been and still are rejected on presenting themselves for enlistment on account of defective vision, which may easily be corrected by glasses; whether there are a considerable number of men now serving in the Army who are provided with glasses and who prove to be efficient soldiers, although they would have been rejected had the defect of short sight been detected at the recruiting offices; and whether he can state that men are rejected on similar grounds in any other European Army or whether the British standard is still kept abnormally high, as shown by statistics supplied to the War Office by professional ophthalmists of the highest authority?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is not the case that men are rejected on account of defective distant vision which can be corrected by glasses. My hon. Friend is correct in stating that there are a considerable number of men now serving in the Army who have glasses. The British standard of vision for general service is not regarded as abnormally high. It is fixed by a joint committee of military officers and ophthalmic experts.