Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has now considered the effect, 1323W direct or indirect, of the new Order calling up attested rejected men for medical reexamination whereby they are placed in a worse position than men who refrained from volunteering under the Derby scheme, who have been rejected since 14th August, 1915, and to whom the Army Council has not before 1st September, 1916, sent a notice calling them up for medical re-examination; and whether he proposes to take any action?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis matter has received careful consideration. Attested men who on re-examination are again found unfit for any form of military service, are now, and have been since the middle of July, given a discharge certificate. As regards others, I must remind my hon. Friend that it is necessary to use all available resources of man-power and in this connection to review the medical classifications. An attested man who was relegated to the Reserve because he did not belong to a category which was being taken at the time may now find himself required if he belongs to a category which is being taken. I think my hon. Friend fails to keep in mind that the men referred to in the question are not rejected in the sense of the Military Ser-vice Acts. They attested for the Reserve, and though they may not have been utilised at the time they remain under the liability to be called up.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now able to make any statement with regard to the position of men who have been rejected on re-examination or put in categories as unfit for service, with a view to ending, as far as possible, the uncertainty as to their future position, which is at present preventing many of them from entering into ordinary business obligations?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt is not intended to call up again for military service or for medical re-examination men who have been again found on re-examination as unfit for any form of military service. These men will receive a discharge certificate. Those who on re-examination are pat in the categories for labour or sedentary work abroad or at home receive in effect conditional exemption from military service if they register at an Exchange and are employed on work of national importance.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office 1324W whether, with a view to putting an end to-the uncertainty under which rejected men now labour, the Army Council will issue an Order that where a man previously rejected is rejected again, or found totally unfit for military service on re-examination by a medical board, he will be given a discharge from the Reserve on medical grounds on the proper Army form?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAn Order was. issued on the 13th July last that where a. man on medical examination by a medical board was found unfit for any form of military service, he should, if attested, be furnished with a discharge certificate, and if unattested be furnished with a medical rejection certificate. There is no intention to recall men who have been so dealt with under that Order for further medical examination or for military service.