23. Mr. T. WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that sick-berth stewards, forty-five years of age and upwards, who signed on to serve in home hospitals, are being warned that they will have to serve abroad; whether this is being done on his instruction; and whether he will reconsider the matter with the object of sending younger men to serve abroad?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASick berth stewards are naval ratings and are, as my hon. Friend will understand, subject to 1106 ordinary Drafting Regulations. There are, however, some ratings of the Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve who volunteered for home hospitals, and, so far as is known, these men have not been moved from such service. If my hon. Friend will furnish particulars of any case known to him, I will have inquiry made.