HC Deb 19 June 1918 vol 107 cc318-9
77. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Minister of National Service what proportion of men above the age of forty-one examined at Conduit Street have been passed in Grade 1?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of NATIONAL SERVICE (Mr. Beck)

Of the men of the new military age examined at Conduit Street up to the 13th of June the proportion passed in Grade 1 is 29.1 per cent.

79. Sir ARTHUR FELL

asked the Minister of National Service what steps he proposes to take to make the recent Order M.N.S.R. 53 operative; if his attention has been directed to cases such as that of a mechanic with one eye and born in 1886 and employed in a silk factory, who was placed in Grade 1 at his first medical examination, and on examination recently by the National Service Medical Board was placed in Grade 2, and as such was not liable, in his particular occupation, to be combed out, but who has, notwithstanding M.N.S.R. 53, been called up; and what steps will be taken, in this and similar cases, to correct the mistake made and return the man to his civil occupation?

Mr. BECK

The procedure consists in calling up in due course those men whose certificates of exemption are withdrawn by the Order. My attention has not been directed to any cases of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend, and I think he must have been misinformed as regards the men whom he has mentioned, as the operative date for the cessation under M.N.S.R. 53 of a certificate of exemption is the 22nd instant. Thus, if this man has been called up, it would appear that it was not under the provision of the Order referred to. If, however, my hon. Friend will furnish me with fuller particulars, I will have inquiries made. Even though a man in an occupation to which a Withdrawal Order applies does not happen to be within the age limits of decertification, it does not follow that he is protected from recruiting, and he is liable to be called up for service if any exemption which he has had expires or is withdrawn by the tribunal in the ordinary course.

Sir A. FELL

I will supply the particulars.