§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Under-,Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the practice of some recruiting stations of taking away from men called up under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, their previous rejection papers; whether such practice is in accordance with War Office Instructions; and whether he can state the terms of these Instructions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe practice brought to notice by my hon. Friend is in accordance with that laid down in paragraph 5 of the Instruction of the Army Council No. 642 of 1917, a copy of which has been placed in the library of the House.
§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked whether the medical history sheets of men called up under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act who were previously rejected are available for the use of medical officers when such men are called up for examination?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe medical history sheets of men called up under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act who were previously rejected are available for the use of medical officers whenever such men are called up for re-examination.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked if men who on appeal have been rejected by a special medical board are liable to be called up for re-examination before the ordinary medical board whose carelessness or incompetence has already been demonstrated in the particular case?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMen rejected by a special medical board are legally liable to have issued to them the statutory Order. The practice of this Department is not to require these men to present themselves for re-examination. The cases are provided for under paragraph 9 of the Instruction of the Army Council No. 642 of 1917.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, if he will have immediate inquiry made into the case of Private Henry Cooney, No. 2039333, No. 9 Tent, Racecourse Camp, Scarborough, who enlisted in the Army in June, 1913, and was discharged on the 8th October, 1915, as no longer physically fit, and who, so 1444W late at the 26th April, 1917, had his case reviewed by the Ministry of Pensions and was granted a pension of 8s. 3d. a week up to the 8th April, 1918, but who was called up for re-examination four weeks later and passed A1?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid that I cannot answer this without local inquiry. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.