22. Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether a young man over thirty years of age, tenant of a farm of over £100 a year and doing all the work single-handed, will be called on for military service?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of NATIONAL SERVICE (Mr. Beck)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. Men engaged in agriculture of the age of the man in question are not dealt with by the Royal Proclamation dated the 20th April, 1918. Such a man may hold an exemption from military service from a tribunal or he may be in possession of a voucher granted by an agricultural executive committee. In neither case can he be called up for military service until his protection is withdrawn, either by the tribunal or committee by which it was granted or by a general Proclamation or Order affecting all agriculturists of his age. The question of what men should be called up from agriculture above the ages already made available for recruitment would be a matter for discussion between the Departments concerned.