§ 45. Mr. WILKIEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, while young men are being brought from Ireland to work in the building of aerodromes, older men with the necessary skill and capacity for the work are being taken into the Army; and whether, in view of the feeling aroused by this policy, some better co-ordinated efforts between the Departments concerned can be evolved for securing, on the one hand, the necessary men for the Army and, on the other, the requisite labour for war work?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I am not aware that young men are being brought from Ireland to work on the building of aerodromes. On the contrary, instructions were issued on 6th April, whereby no Irishman of military age is allowed to be engaged in Ireland for work in Great Britain unless he is engaged through an Employment Exchange for work in agriculture or is a discharged sailor or soldier not liable for further military service. Further instructions were issued last week to the effect that the liability to military service of Irishmen between eighteen and fifty-one years of age who come to work in Great Britain except under these conditions is to be enforced.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the last 1042 part of his answer refers only to men who are being brought over from Ireland in the future or whether it has any retrospective effect?
§ Sir A. GEDDESIt has no retrospective effect in the case of men who have been brought over through Government agency for work of national importance. Irishmen who have come over on their own initiative without any arrangement being made have always been liable to be called up for military service under the Military Service Acts.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill not Irishmen be subject to the comb-out and the clean cut under the same conditions as Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Welshmen?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am afraid that there must be some misunderstanding with regard to the present practice, if I have understood my hon. and learned Friend's question correctly. Irishmen, as such, in this country are not entitled to special protection. They are British subjects. Irishmen brought over on an undertaking given by the Government receive the benefit of that undertaking. If it is impossible for them to continue in this country in fairness to other men of the same age, they are sent back to Ireland, where they resume their normal status.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the right hon. Gentleman going to observe an undertaking in respect of Irishmen while he destroys similar pledges and undertakings given to Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Welshmen?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI know of no undertaking given to Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Welshmen which has been destroyed in connection with this matter of recruiting, but if my hon. and learned Friend has any case in point perhaps he will give me information about it.