8. Viscountess ASTORasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of men who offered themselves as recruits for the Regular Array during the present year but were rejected?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Douglas Hacking)The latest figures available are those for the first quarter of the recruiting year beginning on 1st October, 1934. Out of a total of 10,766 men who were served with notice papers during this period, 4,822 men were rejected.
Viscountess ASTORWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the report of the Chief Medical Officer of Health in regard to school children, in which he says that many of the diseases with which children end their elementary school careers would be entirely eliminated if we had a proper system of open-air nursery schools?
§ Mr. HACKINGI think that question had better be addressed to another Department.
§ Mr. HACKINGIt is a matter of vital importance, but I would point out to the Noble Lady that children are, in the first place, looked after by the Ministry of Health?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the number of rejects increasing or decreasing; and is the standard higher or lower, or does it remain constant?
§ Mr. HACKINGThe standard which we require is, as everyone knows, a very high one. It is as high as, or higher, than that which would be demanded by any insurance company for a first-class life. The answer to the other part of the question is that the standard is certainly improving and the number of rejects is going down. Whereas in 1931 they were 60 per cent., in 1933 they had fallen to 50 per cent., and the figure is now only 45 per cent.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the men who are now offering themselves for service, and of the fact that women to-day are demanding a women's police force, would it not be possible to admit them to the Army also, seeing that they now have the vote?