§ Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for War which Regulation gives him power to hold boys under eighteen years of age whose. parents have made application for his release; and whether he will have the Regulation circulated among Members?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no Regulation which enables the military authorities to retain in the Army a lad who, on enlistment, stated he was over eighteen and is subsequently found to be under eighteen years of age, nor is any such Regulation necessary. A lad of any age can make a 683W valid contract of enlistment, no Regulation at all being required. As I have already stated, the age limit for recruits is fixed by Regulations made under the Army Act, Section 93. If a recruit mis-states his age on enlistment, this cannot be considered a sufficient cause in itself for discharging him from the Army. The precautions which are taken in enlisting lads have been explained recently in answers to questions, and I would refer the hon. Member in particular to the replies given to the hon. Members for Wigan and Westhoughton on the 10th and 20th November, respectively.