§ 28 and 29. Major NEWMANasked the Minister of National Service (1) whether, in accordance with the undertaking he gave during the passage of the Military Service Act, he has taken steps to appoint a Committee to deal with the release of men of military age now employed in Government offices; does this Committee consist of members who have already gained experience on military tribunals and are unconnected with any Government Department themselves; (2) whether he intends to employ an independent Committee, unconnected with his own Department, to grant releases for military service to men of military age now employed in his Department?
§ Mr. BECKMy right hon. Friend has invited a large and distinguished body to act as his representatives in the forthcoming inquiry into the exemptions from military service held by men of military age in the employment of Government Departments. This body will form a panel, consisting of gentlemen not in the Civil Service, many of whom have had experience of tribunal work, and will, I hope, include Members of both Houses of Parliament and representatives of various professions and of business pursuits. The list will be published as soon as it is settled. It is intended that representatives from this panel shall be allocated to the inquiry held in each Department, and that at each inquiry the Department concerned shall be represented. As far as possible the inquiries will be carried on simultaneously, so that the whole investigation may be completed as soon as possible. The Ministry of National Service will, of course, be dealt with in exactly the same way as other Government offices.
§ Major NEWMANWill the gentlemen on this tribunal be unconnected with any Government Department?
§ Mr. BECKI do not know what my hon. and gallant Friend means by unconnected with any Government Department. It would be very difficult to find any distinguished gentlemen of to-day unconnected with Government Departments.
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs it to be understood that the decision of this tribunal will be binding, and that there will be no power left to the separate Departments to override the decision?
§ Sir C. HENRYWhen is it proposed to issue the return that was promised of all those of military age employed in Government Departments?
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill the hon. Gentleman see that Government Departments cease to enrol further men of military age while this inquiry is going on?
§ 39. Major NEWMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the number of men employed at his Ministry under the age of forty-one; how many of these have been classified as fit for some form of military service; and what Instructions have been issued to prevent the future employment in his Department of men under the age of forty-five if they have been passed fit for any form of military service?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe number of men under the age of forty-one on the headquarters staff of the Ministry is 370. Of these 120 are on loan from the War Office or have been discharged from the Army. Of the remainder, 225 have been classified as fit for some form of military service, and of these a very large majority have been placed in Grade 3, or corresponding categories. It is considered that Grade 3 men who have any special qualification for the work of the Ministry 1856 of Food are of greater value to the nation in that Ministry than elsewhere. A committee or tribunal consisting of members of the Ministry of National Service and of this Ministry has been engaged for some months in reviewing the military position of the male staff of the Ministry, and no man fit for any form of military duty will be retained without the consent of the Ministry of National Service.
§ Major NEWMANCan the hon. Gentleman say how many men of military age are employed outside the Ministry, not in London, but in other parts of the country?
§ Mr. CLYNESI should require notice of that question, which would involve a great deal of extensive investigation.
Sir F. HALLWould it not have a great deal better effect it an independent Committee were set up to inquire into this matter, instead of representatives of the different Departments, who are very interested in keeping these men?
§ Mr. CLYNESI think that the interests of the Army may be entrusted to the National Service Department.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. Gentleman say how many of the men loaned from the War Office who are not discharged men are of military age?
§ Mr. CLYNESMy answer indicates that many of them are below forty-one years of age.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not a fact that Grade 3 men in the Government Departments are not the same as Grade 3 men in ordinary civil employment, by special arrangement with the medical boards.