§ Mr. BLISSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether boys who have not yet attained the age of nineteen years are being sent over in drafts to France without their having volunteered to serve overseas under that age, in contravention of the pledges repeatedly given by the Government that none should be sent abroad until they should have attained the age of nineteen?
§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private George Peel, No. 19987, a soldier under nineteen years of age, has been sent to France, although his father had previously objected on the ground that the boy was too young to serve and had sent a 1662W copy of the soldier's birth certificate to the commanding officer; if he is further aware that the soldier's father has in his possession two written assurances which he received in reply to his communications to the commanding officer, the second of which is dated 11th March, 1918, both stating definitely that the soldier would not be sent overseas until he reached the age t f nineteen; and what action he intends to take to redeem the pledges of the Government in regard to this and other cases of boys under age who have recently been sent overseas against the known wishes of their parents and guardians?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid I can add nothing to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday last.