§ 20. Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of National Service whether the three grades into which men are now put after medical examination are divided into three subdivisions; whether not only the men but the tribunals have been refused any information as to which sub-division of a grade a man is put in; whether, in view of the assistance to employers, men, and tribunals such information would give, he will at once issue instructions that full particulars of the sub-division of the new grades shall be given; and will he issue to the House full details of these subdivisions so that it may be known how men are to be utilised in the future?
§ Mr. BECKMy hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed about the system of medical grading by National Service Medical Boards. There are no subdivisions of any of the three grades for men who are fit for military service, and it would not be practicable from a medical point of view to make such sub-divisions. Full information as to the scope of each grade is given to the tribunals, but it would not be possible to give, either to them or to employers or to the men themselves, any information about the way in which the men are likely to be utilised in the Army. This is, and must be determined by the varying demands of the War Office for men for particular services, and by many other considerations, none of which are constant.
§ Mr. GILBERTDid not the old grading under the War Office A 1, 2 and 3, and B 1, 2 and 3 mean grading for particular service; and is not the same kind of grading taking place under the present National Service scheme?
§ Mr. BECKThe present grading is much more satisfactory, and the hon. Member 18 must know that the grades he has mentioned were the cause of much heart burning and dissatisfaction in the old days.