§ 6. Captain Pooleasked the Secretary of State for War why his department has refused to release 14756096, Private G. H. Brown, of a battalion of which he has been informed, although application for such release has been made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; if he is aware that this man's civilian work was wholly in connection with the agricultural industry, and, in view of the serious difficulties caused to farmers in the Rugeley area, will he reconsider the matter.
§ Sir J. GriggBefore the application for release was refused the facts were thoroughly considered by the Joint Ministry of Labour and War Office Committee which deals with these cases. It was held that the man was more urgently needed as a soldier than in his civil occupation. The case can only be reconsidered if a fresh application backed by new facts is made by the Department interested.