§ 14. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for War if for each of the last three years he can state what percentage of the soldiers enlisted in this country were unemployed at the time of their enlistment?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSRecords are only available in respect of the London area, where, during the last three recruiting years, the percentages were 60, 68 and 71 respectively. These figures are compiled from the statements of the recruits: no independent cheek is possible.
§ Mr. RENNIE SMITHWould it not be possible to get the information for the whole country?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI suppose it would be possible, but I am not sure that there is any public service to be served by doing so, and, of course, it would be expensive.
§ Mr. THURTLEI take it we may assume that, although these figures are confined to London, they probably represent roughly, the same state of affairs all over the country?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo. I think that would he dangerous.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these figures for the whole country have been published in a paper called "The Fighting Forces"?
§ 15. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for War the numbers of lads over 17 but under 18 who were enlisted in the Army during each of the last three years?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe numbers for the last three recruiting years were respectively 49, 32 and 40.
§ Mr. THURTLEIn view of the smallness of the numbers, does the right hon. Gentleman not think he could raise the recruiting age to 18?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSMany of them were enlisted as boys and for special purposes.