HC Deb 10 July 1917 vol 95 cc1717-8
52. Captain CARR-GOMM

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Herbert John Wallace, of 68, Glengarry Road, Ea3t Dulwich, who was recently passed fit for general service by the Special Medical Board; whether he is aware of the fact that on 30th June Wallace received a letter from the Ber-mondsey Tribunal informing him that they were unanimously of opinion that he was not fit for general service, but that, in view of the medical report, they were unable to grant further exemption; and, in view of the fact that in May, 1915, Wallace was classified C3 by the Camber-well Medical Board, that he subsequently joined a volunteer battalion, but was only found fit for orderly-room work, that he afterwards offered himself for Section B of the Volunteer Force, and was in February, 1917, examined by three Royal Army Medical Corps doctors, who rejected him for heart trouble, and also for inguinal hernia, whether this case can be reconsidered?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)

I gather that the question at issue in this case is the medical classification of the man, and I have therefore informed the War Office of the hon. Member's question, and have asked them to communicate with him.

57. Colonel BURN

asked whether men who were exempted from military service as being mentally unfit are to be considered fit and proper persons to exercise their vote at a General Election?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir G. Cave)

The question of the mental competence of any voter to exercise the franchise is one for the decision of the Returning Officer at the time of the election.

Colonel BURN

Does my right hon. Friend think it is fair if a man is unable to serve his country—

Mr. SPEAKER

That is a matter for argument.