§ 25. Mr. GULLANDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will issue orders that these young men who are serving in the Army and Officers' Training Corps and desire to attend the universities or other educational institutions should be forthwith released so that they may resume their studies after Christmas?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt has been Arranged that officers and men whose education has been interrupted by military service, and who wish to resume their studies, will be treated on the same basis as those men who have definite employment awaiting them, and they will be granted early release within the period of general dispersal. I am unable to make any statement as to when this release will take effect.
§ Mr. GULLANDWill the right hon. Gentleman not arrange that they can be released to resume their studies after Christmas, at the beginning of the new term; it would be of enormous advantage?
§ Mr. WRIGHTIs it not a fact that at the present moment some of these young men are being sent as privates to France?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware of the fact which my hon. Friend (Mr. Wright) has stated. In answer to the right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire (Mr. Gulland), I will see what can be done in this particular case; but the demobilisation scheme is very extensive and very difficult to work, and after two years, if we cannot carry it out in the way we have arranged, it will fall to the ground.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that if they get next term at college it counts for 1919; if they lose it, they lose the whole year and are set back in the whole of their career?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI will look into all these matters.
§ Sir J. D. REESIf these young men qualify for their commissions will they get them, irrespective of the fact that their services may not be required?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes; I hope these commissions will be given. I have tried to meet very difficult cases in another way. These young men who would be called up with their battalions and would be leaving public school life are not called up, but are allowed to continue their educational work at school.
§ Mr. ANEURIN WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, short of demobilisation, a short leave would in many cases be very valuable to enable these young men to get their term?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWhat I have tried to arrange is this: There are a great many brilliant young boys in Officers' Cadet Battalions, and I am now most anxious that they should be allowed to attend their examinations at Oxford or Cambridge.
§ Sir H. CRAIKWill the right hon. Gentleman remember that those who are in attendance at universities are under a greater strain than those at school, because in their case a year, or even a few months' delay may cut them out for ever from realising their ambitions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI quite realise that point.