§ Mr. HAYDN JONESasked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that David Evans, farm servant, of Waenrydd, Corwen, who had been given exemption till the l5th October, was ordered to join the Army, and that he is now in a camp in Ireland; and whether he will arrange for his immediate release to enable him to return to his work?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI have had this case carefully investigated. The facts are somewhat complicated. David Evans was noted for release by the War Agricultural Executive Committee, and he was legally called up; but as I consider the calling up to have been technically irregular I am communicating with the War Office with a view to securing his release. His case will be liable to review in the ordinary course.
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§ Mr. G. LAMBERTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state out of the quota of 30,000 men recently called for from agriculture how many have actually joined the Army; and what proportion received their calling-up notices after 26th June, and therefore are not to join until after the harvest?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. It is undesirable to give information as to the numbers of men actually recruited under any of the quotas, and I have already regretfully had to decline to give explicit answers to questions put by other hon. Members with regard to other quotas. I can, however, inform my right hon. Friend that the percentage of men whose reporting is postponed until after harvest is relatively small, except in the case of some of the Welsh counties, where there have been special difficulties to meet.