HC Deb 07 February 1939 vol 343 cc750-1W
Mr. De la Bère

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will have some inquiry made regarding the difficulties experienced by ex-service officers wishing to join the Officers Emergency Reserve?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

The difficulties are due solely to the large number of applications which have been coming in with increasing velocity for months past. It is not generally realised what care is expended on each individual application, some of the steps necessary in each case being as follow:

  1. (a) Draw personal papers (if any).
  2. (b) Take up the two references.
  3. (c) Pass to branch or branches for acceptance in order to register his name in the correct category.
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  4. (d) Very often write to applicant as he has completed the form incorrectly or failed to give necessary information, or has given particulars about himself at variance with those contained in his personal papers.
  5. (e) Register his particulars.
  6. (f) Send him letter of acceptance or otherwise.

It will be appreciated that all these steps take time if proper discrimination is to be shown.

My hon. Friend will be aware that the list is now closed.