§ Sir C. NICHOLSONasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that men drafted into Class W of the Reserve frequently experience difficulty in obtaining employment owing to the uncertainty as to when they may be called up again; whether he is aware that men medically unfit are sometimes drafted into this Reserve, which precludes them not only from receiving any benefits under the Military War Pensions Act, but also from drawing sickness benefit under the National Insurance Act; what steps he proposes to take to remedy these defects; and (2) whether his attention has been drawn to the eases of Private Arthur Shearman, No. 29782, 8th Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and Gunner Charles Shearman, No. 50370, 103rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, both of whom have been transferred to Class W of the Reserve; whether Private Arthur Shearman left a good situation to enlist and is now so deaf that he cannot obtain employment and receives neither Army pay nor pension; whether Gunner Charles Shearman enlisted under age, served one year and 300 days (fourteen months in France), and is now so broken in health that he cannot work and is also without pay or pension; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiries are being made in regard to the two cases mentioned. Men are transferred to Class W500W of the Reserve, either at the request of a Government Department or at their own request, if they can be spared; I am not aware of any difficulty experienced by these men in finding employment. While in Class W men are in the same position as any other civilian for the purposes of the National Health Insurance Act.
§ Major NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in any future adjustment of the option at present given to all men outside of Category A to be enrolled as Army Reserve munition workers, he will consider the desirability of excluding from the option men of under thirty years of age passed for garrison duty overseas who, in the opinion of the medical board, might be expected after a period of military training to reach the standard required for general service?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe limitation or extension of the option must depend upon the necessities of the time. My hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion will be borne in mind.