§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that there are many Civil servants anxious and willing to enlist; and whether he will consider the possibility of modifying the present restrictions and temporarily filling the places of 796W those who enlist with men over military age who have been thrown out of employment?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Treasury can only, I think, act in this matter upon the recommendation of the heads of the various departments, who alone can judge whether any more of their officers can be spared without disorganising the work of their departments, having regard to the considerable drain upon their staffs which has already taken place, and to the fact that the duties discharged by those desiring to enlist is often highly technical, and could hardly be performed by temporary substitutes from the outside. The Treasury is, however, prepared to consider suitable cases brought forward by heads of departments, even when extra expense has to be incurred for substitutes, who should be chosen from men who are not of military age.