HC Deb 14 July 1936 vol 314 c1896W
Mr. D. SOMERVILLE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will indicate the chief causes of rejection of recruits in this country in 1936?

Mr. COOPER

A number of applicants are, of course, rejected on sight by recruiting officers as unsuitable because below the prescribed physical standard or for other reasons, but records of such rejections are not maintained. Of recruits who were examined but rejected for medical reasons in 1935, the main grounds for rejections, with percentages, are as follow:

Diseases of the middle ear (including deafness) 4.872
Loss or decay of many teeth 4.429
Defects of the lower extremities 2.741
Defective vision 2.263
Diseases of the heart (other than valvular) 1.969
Insufficient weight 1.708
Flat feet 1.664
Valvular disease of the heart 1.581
I regret that figures for 1936 are you not yet available.