§ 19. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for War if soldiers under twenty years of age and under nineteen years of age, respectively, are being sent, or have recently been sent, to Egypt or India; and, if so, when it may be expected that they will be relieved by older men who are volunteers for the Regular Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the affirmative, but I would explain that all troops now being sent abroad are voluntarily enlisted Regular soldiers.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMight I have an answer to the last part of my question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt, is not proposed to renew the Conscription Act.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhen will these men be relieved?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThey must be relieved before 30th April, when the Act expires.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill that apply to India and Egypt?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn regard to men who are not conscripts, but volunteers, we shall relieve them as soon as our recruiting situation is sufficiently favourable to enable us to do so.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERMay I ask whether the young men under twenty recently sent to India will be relieved?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOf course, as time passes they will cease to be under that age.