§ Sir R. PRICEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities have been given to men of military age in the Crown Colonies to enlist for service in any of our combatant Services; have such facilities, if any, been given to members of the Civil Services in the Crown Colonies; and has any attempt been made in the Crown Colonies to apply the same principles of substitution, by the employment of men above military age or of women, as have been applied in this country?
§ Mr. HEWINSEvery possible facility for enlistment and, in suitable cases, for obtaining commissions has been afforded both to Civil servants and to others of military age in the Colonies and Protectorates, and the response has been most gratifying. Bermuda, Ceylon, the West Indian Colonies, and Fiji have furnished separate units. The Eastern Colonies 'have released as many men as could pos-54W sibly be spared. The West and East African Colonies have utilised all the available men of military age, chiefly for the purposes of local campaigns. The principle of substitution has been resorted to as far as possible, but my hon. Friend will recognise that in tropical Colonies few men, and still fewer women, are available as substitutes for men of military age.