§ 47. Sir C. HENRYasked the Prime Minister whether he will now consider the advisability of appointing a small Committee from Members of this House to investigate the circumstances under which persons of military age and medically fit are being retained in the different Government Departments and to decide as to those who shall be released for military service?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, Sir, the question whether more men can be spared from Government Departments for military service is receiving the consideration of the responsible heads of the Departments in collaboration with the Man-Power Distribution Board.
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs it not possible to give an appeal from the head of the Department to some independent authority, so that there might be some correlation between the numbers dispensed with in various Departments?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Man-Power Board was created for the express purpose of exercising that function.
§ Sir C. HENRYDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that heads of Depart- 1111 ments can be expected to act entirely impartially, and has the Man Power Board the function of a tribunal to decide upon this matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Man Power Board is examining every case where they think available men are not being brought forward, and that especially applies to cases of this kind.
§ Sir E. CARSONDo they sit every day?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think they do.
§ 52. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether single men under twenty-six are still being retained at Somerset House among the clerks of the intermediate division; whether married men up to thirty-one are to be released for service, while single men of thirty-five are to be exempted; and what is now the total number of single men eligible for military service still employed in the Inland Revenue?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. McKenna)As regards the first two parts of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to my reply of 19th October to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn. Information on the subject raised in the last part of the question was given as recently as 18th May, 1916, in House of Commons Paper, No. 78. As the hon. Member will appreciate, the compilation of such information is a considerable task, and, in view of the pressure on Departments and the shortage of staff for essential work, I should not feel justified in asking at such short intervals for returns of the character suggested.
§ Sir E. CARSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we were promised yesterday to have that Return brought up to date?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; I am not aware of it.
§ Sir E. CARSONYes, by the Secretary of State for War.
§ Mr. McKENNAI will look into it.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs the Man-Power Distribution Board dealing with this problem?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes.
§ Sir C. HENRYHas the number employed by the Inland Revenue of men of military age been reduced since the Return in May?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, I think so.
Colonel GRIFFITHSWould it not simplify matters and ease the work in every Department if the Government brought in a measure by which all men under the age of twenty-five would automatically come in?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt would simplify the matter from the single point of view of finding men under twenty-five for the Army, but it would not simplify the collection of the revenue. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] Of course, if the House of Commons does not desire the anticipated revenue of £500,000,000 to be reached—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] It is a fact. You cannot collect the revenue without machinery.