69. Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the number of discharged soldiers who have been placed on military tribunals, and which tribunals they are serving on?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Stephen Walsh)Complete information cannot be furnished without considerable inquiry, but my right hon. Friend is aware of several cases where discharged soldiers or sailors have recently been appointed to tribunals, namely: Harrogate Borough, Bridlington Borough, Eastbourne Borough, Blore Heath Rural, Blyth Urban, Market Drayton Rural, Poplar Borough, Epsom Urban, Lincolnshire Appeal Tribunal, Gravesend Borough (sailor), Acton Urban, Coventry Borough, and St. Albans Borough.
§ 74. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Minister of National Service if he will take immediate steps to see that officers and men who have served overseas are included in the composition of all National Service tribunals?
§ Mr. WALSHI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich on the 9th July last and 1260 to-day. Proposals to add discharged members of the forces to tribunals in any particular cases will receive my right hon. Friend's sympathetic consideration, but he has no evidence to show that general action in the matter is needed.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMay I ask if the hon. Gentleman appreciates the point of the question, namely, that ex-Service men who have served overseas should be included in the tribunals?
§ Mr. WALSHI think the answer I have given does show that they have this particular point in mind, and that they have acted on it in a great many tribunals. There may be others in addition to those I have enumerated, and that, therefore, no general action in this particular direction is needed.