HC Deb 06 May 1918 vol 105 cc1888-9W
Major NEWMAN

asked the Minister of Munitions what steps have been taken to release for military service officials and staff employed at his Ministry; what is the number of men under the age of thirty-five years who have been passed for military service in one grade or another still employed; and of those released for service what is the percentage of men classified as Grade 1 or 2, or categories A, B 1, C 1?

Mr. KELLAWAY

In reply to the first part of the question, a Committee which was formed in August, 1916, examines the cases of all men on the Headquarters Staff of the Ministry who were passed for any form of military service. This Committee consists of the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry as chairman, the Parliamentary Private Secretary as deputy-chairman, two heads of Departments of the Ministry, and two representatives of the Minister of National Service.

The number of men under the age of thirty-five years who have been passed for military service in the three grades, and who are still employed in the Ministry, is:

Grade 1 … … … … 151
Grade 2 … … … … 267
Grade 3 … … … … 473
891

Of these numbers, 317 (i.e., Grade 1, 106; Grade 2, 96; Grade 3, 115) are either engineers, mechanical draughtsmen, chemists, technical assistants, and chartered or incorporated accountants, who are entitled to exemption from military service under the Schedule of Protected Occupations. The remainder, 574, consists of men possessing special experience, and comprise heads of Departments and sections, experienced but unqualified accountants, men lent by railway companies to deal with the transport of munitions, trained permanent Civil servants, etc. Those in the less responsible pests are in the lower medical categories.

Of the 205 men already released for military service, 100 per cent. are men classified as Grade 1 or 2, or Categories A, B 1, or C 1. Of the men about to be released for military service as the result of the later investigations of the Committee above mentioned, 73.5 per cent. are men in Grades 1 or 2 or Categories A, B 1, or C1.