§ The principal Act shall be construed as if to Sub-section (1) of Section 2 were added the words:
§ The tribunal may adjourn the decision of any claim until they have received a 1066 report from the Army Medical Board as to the fitness for military service of the man concerned.
§ Clause brought up, and read the first time.
Mr. E. HARVEYI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."
This is a Clause which is put down in the interests of the appeal tribunal and also in the interests of the Army. A great deal of worry and trouble might be saved if the local tribunal before coming to a decision could be assured what is the opinion of the Army Medical Board as to the health and qualifications of the applicant. In a great number of cases a man goes as far as the Appeal Tribunal and is finally rejected when he actually gets to the Army. The Appeal Tribunal is given a great deal of trouble, and it gives endless worry to the man. There are many cases of domestic hardship—widows' sons and such cases — where, if the tribunal knew in advance that the Army would not use the man in any circumstances for active service, but might possibly use him for clerical work, it might be the governing factor in the position, and might materially assist the tribunal in giving a right decision. I need not explain the purport of the Clause further, and I hope the Government will accept it.
§ Mr. LONGThe object of my hon. Friend is quite a desirable one, but may I point out that the tribunals have already got this power. We have now learned that there is the utmost difficulty in regard to all these medical examinations by the War Office owing to the fact that there are so many cases, and there are no longer as many medical men as there were. Therefore, the problem has become much more difficult and onerous. If this new Clause were put in it would be an indication that this is the course which ought to be followed, and I do not think it is necessary to give any plainer indication of the powers which they already possess.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERI quite agree with the object of this proposal, but he must not forget that the tribunals have nothing to do with the medical unfitness of anyone. Their duty is to regard the cases from an entirely different point of view, and the question of medical fitness must always rest with the Army Medical Board.
§ Mr. RENDALLIf the right hon. Gentleman does not accept this Clause will he 1067 give an Instruction to the tribunals to carry out the wishes of the hon. Member who has made this proposal?
§ Mr. L. JONESMay I point out that it may very much affect the decision of the tribunal whether a man is fit for combatant service or only non-combatant service. If the man is not fit for combatant service it might be better for him not to leave home.
§ Sir G. YOUNGERBut this Clause deals with everybody.
§ Mr. L. JONESTake the case of a man who has business obligations. This may not be enough to override the call for combatant service, but you may be taking him away from work for which he is fitted.
§ Captain AMERYI agree that there are very serious difficulties in regard to which is the soundest and best method. The procedure adopted in every Continental country is that the whole of the medical examination should come first and only after the man is passed as fit comes the question whether any other reason over and above fitness should exempt him from service, and only then are those reasons considered. Undoubtedly there is a very difficult balance of advantage when the question is whether a man is fit for combatant service. If he is, then undoubtedly the reasons for keeping him at home in his office must be very strong indeed to exempt him. On the other hand, if you take the case of a man who is the head of an important business which, in the national interest is at any rate of such importance that the tribunal is very much exercised in its mind whether it should support him or not, and the only question is not whether he should go to the front but whether he should leave the control of the business and become a subordinate Army clerk 200 yards away, for which duties you could easily hire a man. That matter should come within the purview of the tribunal, and the point of view of dealing with men only fit for clerical work should be different to dealing with men fit for combatant service.
12.0 M.
Though I would not be prepared to press the new Clause if it is difficult or not practicable to work it, I do hope that the right hon. Gentleman will consult with the members of the Army Council to see whether it will not be possible, now that we have got full powers of compulsory service and are able to look ahead, to 1068 bring the Army Medical Examining Board up to a standard of strength and efficiency so that, at any rate, in the great majority of cases, no man shall come before an appeal tribunal until it has been definitely settled to which class or category, physically, he belongs.
§ Mr. ROWNTREEI hope that the right hon. Gentleman, if he cannot accept this as a Clause, will agree to make it a Regulation. We have had sent in to the Ambulance Unit men who were unsuited for the work. I believe if this were a Regulation, it would save such cases.
§ Mr. NIELDIn all cases where there is any doubt the papers are marked by the medical board and the report of the board is produced at the time the appeal is called on. Very often private certificates are attached to the papers, and it has been my duty to insist that the man should be re-examined by another board, with results that have sometimes been startling. The practice is always to take care in all cases where there is a representation of ill-health that there should be a medical board' certificate before the man is disposed of. I do not see any reason for carrying it further than it is at present. Every tribunal is proceeding on these lines, being anxious not to send unfit men into the Army.
Mr. E. HARVEYI ask leave to withdraw the Clause in the hope that my right hon. Friend will consider the suggestion.
§ Motion and Clause, by leave, withdrawn.
The DEPUTY CHAIRMANI think the two following Clauses have been covered (Imprisonment in a Public Prison for Offence Against Court-Martial) and (Order for Alternative Service).
§ Mr. MORRELLI wish to move.
The DEPUTY CHAIRMANIf the hon. Member wishes to take up the time of the Committee by moving an Amendment which has already been covered I cannot prevent him.