§ 31. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if action is being taken by the War Office to transfer Royal Army Medical Corps men to the Infantry; if this is being done in the case of men who volunteered for the Royal Army Medical Corps; and whether, in view of the pledges previously given that these men should not be transferred to combatant units without their consent, the attempts to carry out such transfers will be stopped at once?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONFit men are being transferred from the Royal Army Medical Corps to combatant units, but the following two classes are exempted: Firstly, men who enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps, whether before or after the passing of the Military Service Acts, from the Home Hospitals Reserve or St. John Ambulance; secondly, men enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps since the passing of the Military Service Acts who entertain conscientious objection against taking life, and who hold an exemption from combatant service on these grounds issued by a civil 2071 tribunal. So far as possible, Royal Army Medical Corps men enlisted prior to the Military Service Acts, who now claim exemption from transfer, and whose application to be posted to the Royal Army. Medical Corps on these grounds is recorded in their documents, are not transferred compulsorily. The cases of men who can produce evidence that their claim is such as would be recognised by a civil tribunal receive careful and sympathetic consideration, even if there is no previous notification on their documents.