§ 41. Mr. Wootton-Daviesasked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken when passing men as fit for Army service to ensure that the examining medical boards are fully informed of, and take into account, any past records of mental instability; whether he will investigate the circumstances of a case, the facts of which have been submitted to him, of a soldier who committed suicide and who had been in a mental hospital; whether the medical board concerned were aware of the fact; and whether he will make a statement of the practice in such cases?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. George Tomlinson)The instructions issued to medical boards provide for inquiry to be made into a man's personal and family history of nervous and mental illness, and for a specialist's opinion to be obtained in cases of doubt. In addition, since October, 1940, every recruit has been asked to complete in writing a questionnaire, which includes two questions specially directed 684 to this subject. Since December, 1940, the Department has been notified by the Board of Control of all men who may have become liable for military service by reason of their discharge from Orders under the Mental Deficiency Acts, and in all such cases the man's history is brought to the notice of the medical board. Men who exhibit indications of a high degree of nervous or mental instability, or who have at any period of their lives been certified to be of unsound mind, or about whom there is other convincing evidence of past or present insanity, are not called up for military service. I am having inquiry made into the particular case referred to by my hon. Friend and will communicate further with him when my investigation is complete.
§ Mr. Wootton-DaviesWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that very full reply, may I ask him if he does not agree that it is useless to address two questions to a man who is already mental?