§ 63. Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how many of the representatives of his Department throughout the country are of military age and of military fitness; how many of these are farmers granted exemption in order to grow food; whether he is aware that in several instances military representatives have withdrawn exemptions given to such farmers; whether his Department proposes to contest such withdrawals of exemptions; and whether his 1166 Department will arrange to find fitting representatives in discharged soldiers who have done their share of the fighting?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)Of the 130 commissioners, sub-commissioners, and assistant commissioners who have been appointed up to the present, ten are of military age, two are Army officers seconded by the War Office until fit for general service, and two others are C3 men exempted on medical grounds. One is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. The remaining five are farmers and had been granted exemption previous to their employment by the Ministry. In only one instance is the Department aware that a military representative has recommended the withdrawal of exemption. This farmer has been specially selected for a post of great responsibility in connection with the control of live stock and meat supplies, and Lord Rhondda considers that, in view of the importance of the post and his special qualifications for filling it, it is in the public interest that his exemption should be continued. Preference is always given to discharged soldiers, and many have been appointed to posts for which their previous training qualified them.