§ Mr. Bartlettasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that R.A.F. officers with no previous experience of Far Eastern conditions, and aged between 40 and 50 years, are being sent to the China-India-Burma front after a superficial medical examination; and whether his medical advisers have satisfied him that men of that age are physically suited to the climatic conditions with which they will be faced.
§ Sir A. SinclairNo, Sir. No officer is sent abroad unless he has been declared fit for overseas service after full medical examination. An officer's age is, of course, taken into consideration in assessing fitness, but I am advised that there are no medical reasons for excluding an officer from service in the Far Eastern theatre solely on the grounds that he is over 40 years of age.