§ 6. Mr. WATTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any system has been attempted by his Department whereby older men, say, over forty-two years of age, who have served for two or three years on any of the fronts and have, in many instances, sons serving also there, should be given home jobs, while younger men with easy home posts should be given the opportunity of serving abroad; and, if so, will he say for what reason such system broke down, with the result that home posts are very unequally divided?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe system suggested by my hon. Friend is already the policy of the War Office. The arrangements are of course governed by the number and quality of men at home available for replacement, and in the present state of man-power there are very few. If my hon. Friend is aware of any specific cases of men being retained at home who could be utilised as is suggested I shall be happy to have such cases investigated.