§ 16. Mr. TURTONasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware 1416 that John Ramsden, No. 50506, now a sergeant in the 1/1st East Riding Yeomanry, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, was, prior to August, 1914, assisting his father in the management of a farm of 440 acres in Yorkshire; that in October, 1914, he voluntarily joined the Yeomanry; that in September, 1917, his father died, leaving the management of the farm to him; that the North Riding Agricultural Committee have twice written, stating that it is in the interests of agriculture he should be released from military service; and that the committee sent a representative specially to London to urge the necessity of his being so released; and whether the War Office are now prepared to sanction his release, so that he may manage his farm in the interests of food production?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONRamsden was transferred to the Reserve on account of his father's death for a period of three months on compassionate grounds, and has since received a further period of one month. His case is now being considered by my hon. Friend the Minister of National Service, and orders have been issued by the War Office that he is not to be recalled from the Reserve pending a decision.