HC Deb 13 June 1939 vol 348 cc1129-30W
Mr. Hepworth

asked the Minister of Labour whether the medical examination of military trainees is to be different from that on the occasion of the last War; whether it is to be conducted by five doctors, each examining some part of the trainees' anatomy, instead of one doctor making the entire examination; and whether the chairman is to examine at all, or only to base his final recommendation upon the report of the other medical men?

Mr. E. Brown

The medical examination of militiamen will be conducted by a board consisting normally of five doctors, one of whom will act as chairman. Each of the four members will separately carry out certain specified parts of the examination and will recommend the appropriate medical grade in respect of his part of the examination. The chairman will see each man stripped and will consider the recommendations, but will not re-examine each man unless there is a doubtful condition which may affect the grading. In this case he will himself make an examination and consult with the members of the board.

Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider making an intensive examination of militiamen at one or two selected Army depots with a view to eliminating the nervously unstable youth who would be liable to suffer from shell-shock in the event of emergency?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I have been asked to reply. In view of the fact that the medical examination carried out under Section 4 of the Military Training Act is specially designed to prevent men who are unfit for military training owing to nervous instability from entering the Militia, it is considered that a subsequent medical examination in this connection is not necessary.

Mr. De la Bère

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps the Government are taking to grade recruits accepted as militiamen in the same manner as was done by the American Army in the European War, 1914–18?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

The process of inter viewing and posting militiamen in the first instance, and of subsequently placing them in squads according to their capacity, resembles the system referred to by my hon. Friend.