HC Deb 17 May 1916 vol 82 cc1507-8
24. Mr. KING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received from the Rugby Board of Guardians a communication calling attention to the cases of three single men, one of whom had suffered from tuberculosis for six years and for three years had been in receipt of out-relief; the second, who had been discharged as incurable from hospital, had done no work for two years, and had been on the rates for a year; the third, a case of a man who had been suffering for a considerable time from heart trouble and had been told by the infirmary doctor that he should remain in the infirmary; why these three men were passed for military service and called up; and what action he proposes to take?

Mr. TENNANT

I cannot trace the receipt of the communication from the Rugby Board of Guardians, and cannot, therefore, say whether my hon. Friend's information, as stated in his question, is correct or otherwise.

28. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the general desire on the part of men holding medical certificates showing them to be unfit for any kind of military service to know what' their position is, he will say whether these certificates are valid under the Military Service Act?

Mr. TENNANT

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on the 15th May to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh and to some observations I made in Debate last night.

68. Mr. RENDALL

asked the Undersecretary for War whether a rejected man, if he holds Army Form B 2512a, the same endorsed, "Not accepted, medically unfit," and signed by the medical officer who examined him, also having had an armlet issued to him on the strength of the doctor's medical rejection, will be bound to reappear again after the passing of the Military Service Bill, or can he consider himself finished with by the military authorities?

Mr. TENNANT

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 15th May to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh, and also to what was stated in the Debate yesterday during the Report stage of the Military Service Bill.

Mr. RENDALL

The right hon. Gentleman cannot give me a definite answer?

Mr. TENNANT

Well, Sir, I made a good many observations on these men last night; and the question, I think, does not lend itself to a simple answer of "yes" or "no." I would ask my hon. Friend to refer to my observations.