§ 46. Mr. G. MACDONALDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the minimum standard adopted for recruiting for the Regular Army; also the number, along with the percentage, of youths that were rejected for physical reasons during the last 12 months for which figures are available, giving separate figures for each of the Lancashire Army divisions?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)During the recruiting year ended 30th September, 1933, 37,509 persons were rejected for physical and medical reasons, representing 52.3 per cent. of the total number of persons served with notice papers. The corresponding figures for the West Lancashire recruiting zone were 4,465 and 68.1 per cent. and for the East Lancashire zone 6,169 and 72.5 per cent. The minimum height, weight and chest measurements vary according to the age of the recruit and the corps which he wishes to join. In the case of the Infantry of the Line the minimum height is 5 feet 4 inches, the corresponding minimum weight (at 18 years of age) 115 lbs., and the minimum chest measurement 33½ inches.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLIs it possible to make any comparison of the statistics now presented to see whether this offers a clue to the physical conditions of the people, especially the unemployed people?
§ Mr. COOPERIt is very difficult to make any deductions from these statis- 24 tics, because the figures vary according as recruiting is going up or down. In the past we have been able to heighten the standard of recruits and, therefore, a comparison with previous years does not lead to any satisfactory result.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs it not the case that the percentage of rejects this year is higher than it has been in previous years?
§ Mr. COOPEROnly because we were getting more than we needed.