§ 6. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps are taken to prevent mental deficients and other categories exempt from the Armed 1369 Forces from joining and retaining their connection with the Home Guard?
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for War (Sir Edward Grigg)Volunteers for the Home Guard are registered at the local police station in the first instance, and, if they are considered suitable for enrolment, they are interviewed by the unit commander. Home Guards can, of course, be of a lower medical standard than regular soldiers, and I think that commanding officers can be relied upon to accept only such men as are fit to perform Home Guard duties.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Minister aware that no method is in existence up to the present for finding out whether certain persons are mentally deficient or not; and is he aware that practically all the mentally deficients are properly registered, and that a scheme should be evolved whereby officers of the Home Guard could be put in touch with those registers?
§ Sir E. GriggAll available information is obtained.