§ 16. Mr. EDEasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of representations he has received during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1930, from the parents or guardians of recruits that the recruit was under age; and what action he has taken on such representations?
§ Mr. SHAWI regret that I am not in a position to give the information for which my hon. Friend asks, without disproportionate labour. In each case sent to me I have had a special report made. The attestation form has been revised in 1923 such a way as to leave no doubt that a wrongful declaration of age is a serious offence.
§ Mr. EDEHas the right hon. Gentleman evidence that recruiting officers on occasion advise recruits to give a false age when they attend for attestation?
§ Mr. SHAWI have no such evidence, and the attestation form is now drawn in such a way as to make it an equally serious offence for the recruiting sergeant to suggest a thing of that sort.
§ Mr. SHAWEvery recruiting officer knows the attestation form and knows that the change has been made.