HC Deb 26 June 1918 vol 107 cc1035-6
31. Mr. R. McNEILL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men who were over military age at the outbreak of war but were called up in Class 2 of the National Reserve and who are now over forty-six years of age are entitled to the same treatment under the Military Service Acts as conscripts of the same age in regard to service overseas; whether it is the intention for the present to employ men of the age of forty-six in Home service only; and whether care will be taken that no young and fit men are retained in the Home forces for instructional purposes while there are soldiers over forty-six well qualified for such duties?

The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)

The answer to the first and third parts of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative.

Sir J. JARDINE

When a man has been classified in one of the grades, and gets an order to join up in a fortnight, say, what is he to do in order to get into agriculture or munitions or something else that suits his age or qualifications?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I assume he would be posted to a certain depot or unit, and then, if his qualifications were such as would be necessary for agriculture, he would apply to his then commanding officer to be transferred to agriculture.

Sir J. JARDINE

He would not lose his opportunity if he waited till then?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I do not think so. No; he would not.

Mr. McNEILL

If I understood the right hon. Gentleman rightly to say that the second part of my question was answered in the negative, is it not now the rule that conscripts taken under the recent Act of the age of forty-six are retained for Home service; and, if that is so, why is different treatment to be accorded to those who joined under the National Reserve?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I do not think there is any definite pledge with regard to those particular men, but, as I think I said the other day, the Army Council will give their sympathetic consideration to the cases of these older men.

Mr. McNEILL

But will that consideration be equally accorded to those who joined under the National Reserve at the beginning of the War?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I hope so, and I will make investigations and see what is being done.