42. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that women volunteers for service in France who have been passed as fit medically and in every other respect are being informed that vaccination and inoculation are conditions of such service, to which no exception can be made, and rejected solely on the ground of refusing them; by what authority his Department enforces on women conditions not legally compulsory on men; and whether it is the policy of the War Office to deprive the country by such differential treatment of the services of patriotic women?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. These conditions apply only to women who volunteer for service in France, and are laid down by the Army Council as part of the conditions for which women are asked to come forward.
Mr. CHANCELLORDo I understand that it is the policy to refuse fit women who volunteer for service in France because they refuse to have their blood poisoned? Is the appeal sincere which appeared in yesterday's paper for application from such women?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe conditions are as I have stated them in the answer.