§ 22. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will at once stop the illegal practice of the military authorities in calling up voluntary attested men to the Colours who have been medically rejected and who have not been given a discharge, but who, under Section 1, Sub-section (2), of the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, are entitled to thirty days before they can be called to the Colours?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware of any such practice as is referred to in the question. A detailed explanation has been issued to all recruiting officers and military representatives as to the effect of the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917.
§ Mr. SNOWDENMay I supply the hon. Gentleman with cases?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI will have inquiries made.
§ Mr. HOGGEWhat is a man to do in these circumstances, which are within my knowledge—if a man who has been wounded, has lost his arm, and has only two fingers on his left hand, and is called to rejoin the Colours by notice from the War Office?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI think I must remain at issue with my hon. Friend as to this being the case, because obviously this man will not be called up under the Act at all.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHow can an attested man who is called up apart from the Act, and gets no right of appeal, get a right of appeal after he has been passed into the Regular Army?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThat does not arise.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIt does. It is precisely the point.