Sir MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Under-Secretary of State for War with regard to the case of Alfred Cordwell, No. 4666, Royal Fusiliers, in France, and whose mother lives at 49, Bolton Road, Pendleton, Manchester, whether he is aware that this man's father is recently dead and also his only brother, killed in action; and whether, as sole surviving son, Mrs. Cord well's claim to have her son placed on munition work can be considered?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI very much regret that this case does not come within the rule which it has been necessary to lay down, and I cannot therefore take any special action.
Sir M. BARLOWasked the Under-Secretary of State for War with regard to the ease of only surviving sons, whether he is aware of the regulations of the Ministry of National Service on the subject; whether his attention has been called to the decisions recently given by the president of the Westminster Appeal Tribunal to the effect that a widow whose other sons have been killed is entitled to claim exemption for a sole surviving son even though she may have daughters alive as well as the sole surviving son; what the decision of the War Office in the matter is; and whether he will consider the desirability, in the public interest, of some clear general ruling being agreed between the War Office, the Ministry of Munitions and the chairmen of tribunals?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe War Office is only concerned with the cases of serving 1569W soldiers, and I am afraid it is mot possible to give any pledge with regard to the matter. I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that every case brought to the notice of the Department is most carefully and sympathetically considered by the military authorities, both at the War Office and with the various Expeditionary forces. As I stated before, our rule at present is that if there are more than two sons and all have fallen except one, the surviving son is kept on Home service.