§ 67. Sir J. Nallasked the Secretary of State for War whether, following upon the decision not to send men under 20 years of age upon active service overseas, he can allow the discharge of medical and other specialist students who enlisted voluntarily and enable them to continue their student training until they attain the age of 20 years?
§ Sir V. WarrenderAs regards the age at which men may be sent on active service overseas, I would refer to the statement made by my right hon. Friend yesterday. Arrangements have been made for the release from the Army of medical and certain other specialist students, provided that they have reached a sufficiently advanced point in their studies.
§ Sir J. NallDoes my hon. Friend realise that some of the very young students who are only 18 years of age cannot have reached a very advanced stage in their studies, and will he consider the cases of those between 18 and 19 years of age, who are otherwise being deflected to channels of work which will be of no use to them later on?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI will look into that point.
§ Mr. StephenWill the hon. Gentleman also consider those of 17 years of age?
§ Mr. LawsonWhy is there this distinction between the volunteers and the men who are conscripted, seeing that the House understood at the time that this was going to apply to soldiers generally?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI think that if the hon. Gentleman will refer to the statement which my right hon. Friend made yesterday, he will see that a clear distinction was drawn.
§ Mr. LawsonDoes the hon. Gentleman understand that it was only yesterday that this distinction was drawn?