§ 44. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Secretary of State for War the number of boys who were irregularly enlisted under the age of 18 years during the last three years for which figures are available; and whether he will take energetic measures to minimise their recruiting?
§ Captain KINGI presume that the hon. Member refers to recruits under 18 years of age who enlisted as men by mis-stating their age. I have no information as to the total numbers who so enlisted, but the number who did so, and were subsequently discharged during the last three recruiting years were as follow:
As regards the last part of the question, there is a standing instruction that where there is the slightest suspicion that the recruit is under the age of 18, full inquiries are to be made before his enlistment is finally approved. I do not consider that it is practicable to go further.
1923/24 793 1924/25 560 1925/26 527
§ Mr. BAKERDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman not think it is the duty of the War Office to keep a complete return of all such irregular enlistments?
§ Captain KINGUnless they are brought to light, we cannot make a list of them. I have given the hon. Member the number of cases which have come to light and have been discharged.
Mr. THOMASIs there any difficulty in the way of the War Office acquainting the parents of individuals, so as to ensure that the parent's consent, in the case of a boy under 18, has been obtained?
§ Captain KINGThese are not cases of the enlistment of boys. We are not knowingly taking these boys under 18. These are eases, as I have already said, of boys who over-state their age in order to get enlistment as men.
Mr. THOMASThere are cases to which I myself have drawn the attention of the War Office, where a boy has given a false age, and the parents have known nothing about it, and where the parents desired the boy to come out of the Army. Is there any difficulty in the way of the War Office acquainting parents in these doubtful cases?
§ Captain KINGIn any doubtful case, as I have just stated, we make very strict inquiries.
§ Mr. BAKERIs it not the fact that every case which comes to light is dealt with by the release of the boy in question; and if not, is it not possible to give more complete figures than have been given?
§ Captain KINGI am not in a position to give more complete figures than I have given.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONCould not all this trouble be avoided if instructions were given to the recruiting authorities to insist upon seeing the birth certificates in these cases?
§ Captain KINGThat has been considered, but it is not thought to be a practical suggestion.