HC Deb 15 July 1918 vol 108 cc722-3W
Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will have immediate inquiry made into the case of Private Ridehalgh, No. 198055, Labour Corps, who, on the 24th June, received notice to rejoin the Army, and who is now in an overseas group, Peckham, in view of the fact that this man was transferred to Class W in 1917 owing to unfitness for military service, and who on 3rd June last was reported by the Army medical authorities at Blackpool as being almost blind and unable to kneel or raise himself without assistance, and who was certified as being physically unfit for munition work; and will he inquire into the way in which he was passed by the medical board last week and placed B 2 and put into the overseas group, seeing that it is alleged that the medical officer simply looked at him and then classified him?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I am informed that this man was transferred to the Reserve in November last for employment on munition work, and not owing to unfitness for military service. Further inquiries are being made, and I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will have immediate inquiry made into the irregularity of the proceedings of the military service tribunal at Oundle in the case of William James Howell, aged forty-four, a grocer and general dealer, who on the 17th June claimed exemption from military service on conscientious grounds and also on business and domestic grounds, the decision of the tribunal being that he was a sincere and genuine conscientious objector, and gave him a relief from Army service on condition that he found work of national importance within six weeks, but the certificate of exemption was not sent to him till three weeks later, when it gave exemption only from combatant service; and, seeing that this was not the oral decision of the tribunal, and the tribunal have refused to reconsider the matter, and as the claimant has had no opportunity of appealing against this decision, will he give instructions for the local tribunal to rehear the case or to allow an appeal to be made to the county tribunal?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

I am making inquiry in the case.