§ Mr. WATTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the tribunal of Dunblane, Perthshire, has refused exemption to a man named David Sands, of Middleton Farm, Braco, although he is the only man working on that eighty-five-acre farm, doing all the work, including milking, ploughing, and sowing the seed; and, if so, will he instruct his representatives in that district to delay calling up this man for 5th April as at present commanded, so that the food of the people may be attended to?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInquiries are being made, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when I am in possession of the necessary information.
§ Sir J. JARDINEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiry into the refusal of the application made for the temporary release of Private W. Brown, No. 3509, of the 4th Battalion (Reserve) Royal Scots, by William John Oliver, farmer, at Denholm Mill, in the county of Roxburgh, of a farm of SO arable acres, eight horses, including three stallions, fifteen cattle, including cows, twenty pigs, and fifteen lambing sheep, as well as other stock, who petitions for Mr. Brown's services during the stallion season, beginning 1st April next, on the ground that he is a most useful man in all farm work, and also specially experienced in the work of moving one of the stallions to places over a distance of 110 miles, the other stallion travelling with Mr. Oliver himself, and the third staying on the farm; whether he is aware that Mr. Oliver was informed by the National Service Department at Ellerslie, Melrose, by letter of the 19th March last, that owing to the time taken and correspondence necessary before men can be released from the Army, it has been decided that all applications remain in abeyance meantime; and whether, to save the interests of agriculture, he will see that emergent applications receive more alacrity?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONA report has been called for as regards the first part of my hon. Friend's question, but has not yet been received. I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible. The latter part of the question appears to be a matter for the National Service Depart- 941W ment, and on this part I observe ray hon. Friend is also addressing a separate question to my right hon. Friend.
Mr. C. WASONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, if he will inquire into the case of a man who has been called up for service, leaving his father aged sixty-seven and quite unable to work the farm; and, in view of the fact that this man has been sent south to work on a farm, will he see that adequate labour is supplied for the working of the farm that he has left or else that he be returned there until his services for military purposes are required?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have not yet received a reply to the inquiries which have been instituted, but I hope to be in a position to communicate the result to my hon. Friend very shortly.
Mr. WASONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why a person who was granted exemption by both local and appeal tribunals on the ground that he was doing important national service has now been called up and the affairs of an important firm under contract to supply the Royal Navy with meat prejudiced?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI find that the particulars recently furnished by my hon. Friend are not sufficient to enable me to make proper inquiry, but if he will let me know the man's address I will take the matter up without further delay.
Mr. WASONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why a gardener who had been declared unfit for service abroad more than once was recently called up for Home service and sent off to Bristol to work as a bricklayer's labourer; whether he is aware that this gardener was unable to stand the hard unaccustomed labour; and if he will say if he has now been permitted to return to his own trade?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInquiries have been made of the recruiting officer, but no answer has yet been received. I hope shortly to be able to reply to my hon. Friend.