§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of National Service if Lord Beaverbrook is thirty-eight years of age; if he holds an exemption from military service and, if so, on what grounds the exemption has been given; to what tribunal did Lord Beaverbrook apply for exemption; did he appeal against any decision of a local tribunal, and was the exemption, if any, total, or for a specified period; if Lord Beaverbrook has been medically examined and, if so, what is his medical category; if he holds any exemption certificate, has this been given since his recent Government appointment; and, if so, under what arrangement was he. exempted prior to that date?
§ Mr. BECKThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, Lord Beaverbrook having been born in 1879. Lord Beaverbrook has held a temporary commission in His Majesty's Forces since 6th January, 1915, and his name appears on page 1910 of the current issue of the Army List. Lord Beaverbrook has seen service in France during the present War. The questions as to exemption do not, therefore, arise. Lord Beaverbrook has been medically examined from time to time by the military authorities, and found unfit for service. On his appointment to the Ministry of Information, Lord Beaverbrook instructed that the staff should be re-examined, and he at once submitted himself for re-examination, when he was again found by a medical board to be unfit for service.