§ 35. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that statements of so serious a character regarding the treatment of men sent back for medical re-examination have been made before the Northampton Tribunal that it has been agreed to hold a special joint meeting with representatives of the medical board; whether, he knows that one solicitor stated that his clients had been treated like dogs; and whether investigation into these charges will be made by his Department?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)No specific complaints of the treatment by the Northampton Recruiting Medical Board have been received in the War Office. An officer of the Department recently visited the board and found that the men were being well treated and carefully examined. If my hon. Friend will give me details of any particular case, of alleged ill-treatment, I will have the matter investigated immediately.
§ 37. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the passing for active and other forms of military service involving hard physical labour of men in Leicester suffering from valvular disease of the heart, chronic rheumatism, blindness in one eye, congenital physical weakness which has incapacitated from work for years, curvature of the spine, lameness, chronic bronchitis, and similar complaints; and whether he proposes to issue instructions 508 to the Army doctors examining in Leicester which will prevent them passing such men into the Army '
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have noted what my hon. Friend says of the recruiting medical board at Leicester, but I must remind him that men suffering from definite disabilities which incapacitate them for general service are being classified in the lower categories for service of an Auxiliary character. Every endeavour is made not to accept for service men whose disabilities are of such a character as to unfit them for rendering military service either of a general or auxiliary character.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that men are passed into low categories and then are immediately, on subsequent examination, passed into higher categories without any real examination of their physical condition?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am told that that is not the case.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWell, it is universal !
§ Mr. MACDONALDIs it not the fact that men passed into the lower classes of these categories have got notice to sell up their businesses and dispose of what connection they have got; and that the mere passing of the medical examination is so serious that it ought not to be done unless it means something from a military point of view?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am told that no special instructions to give any such notice have been issued by the War Office.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the hon. Gentleman explain why the R.A.M.C. doctors pass men without putting the stethoscope to them, especially seeing the men have been certified to be suffering from valvular disease of the heart?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe hon. Member has made these charges previously, but he has not once submitted a specific case.
§ Mr. PRINGLEOh, I have !
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI may inform the House that within the last week the Director-General has visited various centres from which complaints have come, and I can assure the House that thorough investigation of each complaint is being made.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWhitehall is one of them. !
§ Mr. R. MACDONALDIt seems desirable to get this matter cleared up. Has ray hon. Friend inquired into the long list of specific cases which I sent to him the other day, with names, addresses, and particulars of the men about whom I have made complaint?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes; I have ordered inquiries to be made into each individual case.
41. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in the notices calling up rejected men for re-examination the paragraph stating that the recruit will not be called up for service with the Colours if again rejected is now being struck out; by what authority is this being done; and whether it is the policy of the War Office to cripple the Army still further by enlisting men medically unfit in addition to those already filling our hospitals 2
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere is no paragraph in the form of notice calling rejected men up for medical re-examination under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, stating that the recruit will not be called up for service with the dolours if again rejected. It is not the policy of the War Office to enlist men for any form of service for which they are medically unfit.
Mr. CHANCELLORDoes the hon. Gentleman suggest that this paper which I hold in my hand, containing the paragraph mentioned, struck through with red ink and dated 28th May, is the creature of my imagination?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONPerhaps my hon. Friend will supply mo with it?