§ Mr. JACOBSENasked the Minister of National Service (1) if he is aware that Thomas Hatton, of 359, Stockport Road, Hyde, was ordered to attend at Chester for medical examination on 9th May last; that on duly presenting himself on the appointed day he was detained by the military authorities and passed into the Army forthwith; whether it is in accord 444W with Army Regulations that a man should be taken into the Army under such circumstances without notice; and is he aware that on 20th July another notice was sent to Hatton from Chester requiring him to attend for medical examination on 23rd July, although he has been in France since 2nd July and in the Army since 9th May; and (2) if he is aware that W. Bennison, of King Edward Street, Hyde, employed by the Corporation of Hyde, had a calling-up notice sent to him from Chester in May, 1918; that this notice was returned with an explanation that Bennison had already been serving for some months as a wireless operator in the National Service on a certain named ship; that a further notice was sent on 18th June threatening immediate police action unless complied with forthwith; that no such action was taken; that on 19th July a still further notice was sent calling him up for 27th July, and again threatening police proceedings; whether he is aware that cases of erroneous calling up are of frequent occurrence at Chester; and if he will take steps to correct this?
§ Sir A. GEDDESInquiries are being made into the cases referred to by the hon. Member and I will inform him of the result as soon as possible.