HC Deb 02 August 1916 vol 85 c324W
Mr. ROWNTREE

asked whether any steps have yet been taken to liberate Mr. Walter Robinson from military control, in view of the fact that the Middlesbrough Local Tribunal granted him exemption from military service on condition that he became engaged in work of national importance?

Mr. FORSTER

Careful inquiries have been made into this case, and the War Office is informed that no notice was received by the military representative or by the recruiting officer that an application for the variation of Mr. Robinson's non-combatant certificate had been made nor was any notice received that the case would be considered by the tribunal on the 30th June. Mr. Walter Robinson's only effective certificate is therefore a certificate of exemption from combatant service, and he is not entitled to be released from military control. It has, however, been decided, purely as a concession, to release Mr. Walter Robinson from military service conditionally upon his being engaged in work of national importance to the satisfaction of the Committee on Work of National Importance.