§ 17. Major Sir EDWARD COATESasked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been drawn to a suggestion made by the chairman of the London Appeal Tribunal, on Thursday last, that an intimation should be given that men of forty-seven years of age and upwards liable for military service should not be called up until October next, except in the event of such a national emergency as is contemplated in Section 3 of the recent Military Service Act?
§ 18 and 19. Sir GEORGE YOUNGER and Mr. HUDSONhad questions on the Paper in identical terms.
§ Mr. BECKI have seen the reports of the suggestion made by the Chairman of the London Appeal Tribunal (Sir Donald Maclean) and also heard his speech during the Committee stage of the Military Service Act, 1918 (2). As was explained by my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service, the age of fifty was adopted after most careful consideration, and having in mind not only the reinforcement of the fighting services, but the maintenance so far as possible of the commercial fabric of the nation. It was also considered that the fixing of the age at fifty would assist in alleviating the inevitable personal hardships caused by the present grave crisis.
I regret, therefore, that it is not possible for the Government to depart from its considered policy, which was endorsed by both Houses of Parliament.