§ 84. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Joseph Hawkes, of Luton, the last remaining son in civil life of a widowed mother; whether he is aware, in respect of this family, that two brothers have been killed in France, a third is at Roehampton, having had a leg amputated, and a fourth is serving in Italy; whether he is further aware that the calling up of this man will practically mean the breaking up of the home, and whether he will take any steps in this matter; and whether he will take action to substitute the last remaining son of a widowed mother in place of the last surviving son of a widowed mother in all Regulations for the guidance of the tribunals?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy attention had already been called to this case, and I am glad to inform the hon. Member that Hawkes has not been posted, and that, in view of all the circumstances, the Director of National Service proposes to exercise the discretionary power which he possesses by leaving the man in civil life. This power, which is entrusted to all regional directors, is, I think, sufficient to deal adequately with all cases of real hardship.
§ Mr. ANDERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, whether all the sons of widows have to be killed before the special exemption Clause can come into operation?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe hon. Member did not notice that I did answer the last part of the question with regard to discretionary power. There is under the Proclamation a statutory right for individuals who are the last surviving sons of widows, but there is a discretionary power in the father wide margin of indeterminate cases, a special power vested in the Director of National Service in the region, to take administrative action.
§ Mr. ANDERSONIs the applicant aware of the fact in such a case that he has the right of direct appeal to the Minister of National Service if his claims are not, from his standpoint, met in a satisfactory way by the tribunal?
§ Sir A. GEDDESNaturally, I could not say everyone is aware of it. The appeal 1222 is, in the first place, to the Director of National Service of the region, and, in the second instance, to the Minister of National Service. There is a local discretion. I think it is pretty well known.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think this discretionary power acts very unequally? Is he aware, for instance, that he refused me in the case of a blind widow, the other day, with six sons? Five of them have already been in the Army, and three of them are blind.
§ Sir A. GEDDESI have not heard of that case.