§ Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can withdraw Army Council Instruction No. 287, of 1919 (Definition of Extreme Compassionate Grounds), and substitute for it one in a form under which compassionate claims may have more chance of being, met, particularly on grounds of business hardship and widowers in necessitous circumstances?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe instructions recently issued governing releases on compassionate grounds were compiled only after careful consideration had been given to every class of applicant, and in view of the number which can be released upon such grounds under prevailing conditions, I regret it is not possible to consider any extension of the grounds at the present, moment.