§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in some instances, men who have presented themselves to the military authorities at the date of their call, and who were passed as fit for service, were not drafted into the Army immediately, but were returned home and informed that notification would be given when their services were required; that some of these men had relinquished their businesses and positions in civil life before reporting to the authorities; and, in view of the fact that they are deprived of the means of supporting themselves in the period which elapses between the date of their call and the time when their services are finally required, will he say whether any provision, in the form of Army pay and allowances or otherwise, will be made for them during this interval?
§ Mr. TENNANTArrangements have been made to enable men to be authoritatively medically examined before they are called up. If they will take advantage of these arrangements the chances of such occurrences as those described recurring will be minimised.
§ Mr. PROTHEROasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a number of civil medical practitioners were paid sums varying from 1s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per head for medical examinations of recruits attesting under the group scheme; whether these certificates are now not 1823W accepted by the military authorities; whether the men then passed as medically fit for service have now to appear before a military medical board, with the result that the public money spent on the examination of recruits under the group scheme by civil practitioners have been wasted; and whether this medical board which assembles at the regimental depots consists sometimes of a single junior medical officer?
§ Mr. TENNANTCivil practitioners who are appointed examining medical officers are allowed 2s. 6d. per head for each recruit examined subject to a limitation of £2 per day for a full day's work and lesser amounts for part of a day only. This is the primary medical examination. It is necessary that all men should be examined by a medical board when called up for service irrespectively of whether they have been examined on attestation by a medical board or at their own request previous to being called up for service. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Colonel GIBBSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in cases where men are brought up before medical boards and are recommended for discharge, instructions are given that the men's civil occupations are to be noted in each case?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhen a soldier is discharged, his trade is entered, together with other particulars, on the Army Form B 268 on which his discharge is carried out. It is also entered on the man's character certificate.
§ Mr. WILESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an orderly in one of the Red Cross hospitals who attested in France under Lord Derby's scheme on 27th March, and was rejected as unfit for military service and received Army Form W 3,153b, need offer himself for further examination?
§ Mr. TENNANTI understand that it will not be necessary for such a man to offer himself for further examination.