§ 31. Mr. ROWLANDSasked how many men of military age who hold commissions in the Army are acting as military repre- 2289 sentatives before tribunals and in what places are they stationed; and how many of them have been on active service abroad?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf my hon. Friend refers to officers acting as military representatives at appeal tribunals the answer is: forty-seven are of military age, and, as stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities on the 27th June last, eleven were found fit for general service, and instructions were sent that they were to be made available to rejoin their units. If the question applies also to local tribunals, of which there are upwards of 2,000, I cannot give the information in detail, as it would involve considerable inquiry and consequent work. In some cases recruiting officers are partly employed as military representatives, and the general policy of the Department is not to appoint officers for recruiting duties who are of military age and fit for general service.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the great discontent caused by the ordinary tribunals, especially where a man of military age is harassing another man into the Army; and cannot something be done to shift these men, even if they are not medically fit for active service, to some other service than appearing before tribunals?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware of that general discontent. If my hon. Friend will give me a specific case, I will see that it is inquired into.