Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that lads of sixteen and seventeen years of age are being accepted as recruits for the Army; and whether lads of this age are entitled to be released from the Army if their parents make application for their release and prove that their age is as stated above?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe consent of the parents or guardian is required to the enlistment into the Army of any recruit under eighteen years of age. The Recruiting Regulations order that, whenever there is any ground for suspicion that a recruit is under the age mentioned, full inquiries are to be made before enlistment is approved, and the attention of recruiting officers has recently been drawn particularly to this Regulation. The reply to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative as regards lads under seventeen years of age. The discharge of soldiers over seventeen years of age who have mis-stated their age on enlistment is only authorised as a concession under certain circumstances. I would also refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Members for Wigan and Springburn on the 10th and 10th November respectively.