§ 78. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the pledge that attested men should not be at a disadvantage with unattested men, he will amend Regulation 175 of the Instructions to Tribunals as to voluntary attested men, so that attested men may apply for exemption on the grounds of ill-health or infirmity equally with unattested men?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)Attested men, alike with unattested men, are examined as to their fitness for military service by National Service Medical Boards, and I would remind the hon. Member that attested men have the same rights as unattested men, under the Rules which have been issued by my Department, of applying to the Appeal Tribunal for leave to be examined by the medical assessors, if they are dissatisfied with their grading by the National Service Medical Board.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSAm I to put that construction upon the Order issued in February last, which says that attested men cannot appeal on the ground of ill-health, and does that agree with the general Order under the Act of 1915 which was issued to the tribunals?
§ Mr. FISHERUnder the present practice everyone, whether attested or unattested, will be able to make an appeal to the medical board, and can apply to the Appeal Tribunal to be examined by medical assessors. That affords to unattested men every protection they can desire to have on medical grounds.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAfter the passing of the Bill which left this House yesterday is there to be any change in the Regulations regarding medical examination and appeals on medical grounds to tribunals?
§ Mr. FISHERNo. As far as I am responsible for the issuing of Regulations, I do not contemplate taking away any of the rights as regards appeal on medical grounds which men have at present.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSWill the right hon. Gentleman modify the circular which says that attested men are not to apply on the ground of ill-health or infirmity?
§ Mr. FISHERThere is no need to modify it at all. They can now, and I hope will always, be able to appeal on medical grounds to the Appeal Tribunal if they like for leave to be examined.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSWhy are these words in the circular?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister, in introducing the Military Service Bill, announced that rights of appeal were to be Limited, and can he give an undertaking that that intention has been departed from?
§ Mr. FISHERI am not aware that my right hon. Friend made any such statement. I have made my statement. So far as I am responsible, I have no intention of taking away the rights which at present exist of appealing on medical grounds to the Appeal Tribunal.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSMay I take it that the tribunals, irrespective of this circular, will treat attested men on just the same lines as unattested men?
§ Mr. FISHERThe hon. Member must not put an interpretation on my words different from what I myself put. They have definite rights now of appealing to Appeal Tribunals on medical grounds, and they have no further rights. The tribunals must not take it that they have any further rights, or that their position has been in any way altered.