§ 43. Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for War why a man, whose name has been supplied to him, having registered for National Service on 13th August last year, having enlisted on 14th September in the Royal Berkshire Regiment on a 3-years'service engagement and having been discharged on 20th November on the ground that his services were no longer required for the purpose for which he enlisted, was not immediately transferred to another unit where he could complete the period of National Service instead of being allowed to return to civilian life and then, after an interval of four weeks, being required to register again for National Service.
§ Mr. HeadThis man was given the opportunity to remain in the Army as a National Service man but did not take advantage of it.
§ Mr. HurdDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that this is very wasteful from the Army's point of view? The man has joined the Army, then he is found unsuitable for that unit; and instead of being allowed to continue his National Service, he is sent back to 999 civilian life, then called up again and has to be equipped again. Is it not very disturbing for the boy and very wasteful to the Army?
§ Mr. HeadThat was not the case. This man joined as a Regular, and was later not fit as a Regular. He was asked whether he would continue as a National Service man, but he chose to be medically re-boarded, possibly in the hope that he would be rejected as a National Service man.