§ Sir W. BEALEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether due attention is being given to the case of Private E. Atkinson, No. 271305, 27th Company Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport), reported by a medical board to be permanently unfit for military transport and recommended for work of national importance, in respect of whom application has been made through the Ayrshire District Agricultural Committee for his release or transfer to one of the agricultural companies at Ayr, and which application was referred by the Ministry of National Service to the War Office early in May last; whether the War Office have been informed that the application is made with a view to enable a business of potato merchants and potato-seed growers to be carried on in spite of the present 187W shortage of labour, this man having been before enlistment co-owner with his father of this business and co-tenant of farms belonging thereto, and having acted as manager of a material part of the business; and whether, under the circumstances, the War Office will expedite a decision and enable the father to provide for the continuity of this business of national importance?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInstructions were issued by the War Office on the 5th June for Private Atkinson to be made available for agricultural work. He will be posted to an agricultural company at Ayr, if this has not already been done, and should be available for the work mentioned.