§ 116. Sir GEORGE AGNEWasked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware 2240 that recruiting agents, with a view to getting married men to attest under Lord Derby's scheme, have in some cases informed these men that unless they attested they would be compulsorily taken under the Military Service Act, and would lose their right to appeal; and what steps does the Government propose to take in case men who have attested under false representations of the recruiting authorities now refuse to come forward?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have not any knowledge of occurrences such as those indicated in the question of my hon. Friend. I cannot make any general statement as to the action which will be taken by the Government in the case of men who having attested refuse to come forward in response to a lawful summons. It would be improper to anticipate any such unfortunate and illegal attitude on the part of any man who has attested.
§ 117. Mr. GLYN-JONESasked the Under-Secretary for War whether the Government, in calling to the Colours married men engaged in reserved occupations who voluntarily attested, will adhere strictly to the conditions which such men were told would be acted upon before they could be required to serve; and, if not, would he undertake that the conditions shall not be modified to the detriment of such men?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt was never intended that any list of reserved occupations should be final. Obviously such a list must be subject to revision from time to time as the industrial conditions and military needs of the country require. Moreover, every attested man has always been subject to become liable to be called up for military service if it was shown that in his case he was not necessary to civil employment.