§ 21. Sir JOHN SPEARasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if farmers' sons and others engaged in agricultural work who have been exempted by local tribunals but have been appealed against by the military, with the result that the Appeal Tribunal has given exemption only until a substitute is found, come under the Instructions recently issued to tribunals by the War Office providing that men engaged in agriculture are not to be recruited?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo Instructions have been issued by the War Office to tribunals, nor would any such Instructions be competent. Recruiting officers have, however, been given Instructions to the effect that a man whole-time employed on a farm on farm work is not to be posted for military service without the concurrence of the Agricultural Executive Committee in England or the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in Scotland, and these Instructions take effect whatever may be the man's position with regard to tribunal exemption.
§ Sir J. SPEARMay I ask if men who have been before the tribunal, and have been exempted until substitutes are found, will come under the Instruction just mentioned?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI must have notice of that.