asked the Minister of National Service if he will state what steps, if any, he is taking to secure the revision of protection certificates issued under the Schedules of Protected Occupations, and more particularly the certificates issued under the Munitions Area Recruiting Scheme, and known as Forms 3,476A, 3,476B, and 3,476 W.M.V.?

The Schedule of Protected Occupations was revised at the beginning of this year with the object of releasing for service a large number of fit men. The revised Schedule came into operation on 1st February, 1918, and a large number of certificates have already been withdrawn under it.

The Government have also given directions that with the exception of men en- gaged in an occupation for which an age limit of nineteen is fixed in the Schedule, Grade I. men born in 1898 and 1899 are not to be retained in Admiralty, War Office, or Munitions firms after the 17th of May, and Grade I. men born in 1895, 1896, or 1897 so employed are not to be retained after the 17th of June.

If it is found that the temporary retention of any men covered by these directions is absolutely essential to the output of munitions which are immediately required, such cases are to be referred to a Committee representing the Ministry of National Service, the War Office, and the Admiralty, or Ministry of Munitions, as the case may be.

The occupations for which nineteen age limit is fixed arc shipbuilding and repairing, Section A, and oil shale mining and shale oil works, Section B.

Are we to understand that there is no review of these protection certificates in the case of men over twenty-three years of age?

Yes; I think that is so. But the whole matter is a clean-cut operation and does not affect the other machinery for obtaining men.

asked the Minister of National Service if he will state whether he proposes to call up all single-man-business men or whether they will be called up to a certain age; and whether he can say what are the conditions under which these men will be called up?

The legal position of one-man business men is unchanged by the recent Military Service Act, except as regards the extension of the age to fifty. It is not proposed to withdraw the instructions concerning this class of man which were issued in December last to tribunals by the Local Government Board. So far as the national emergency permits, every attempt will be made by the Ministry of National Service to pursue its policy of safeguarding the interests of these men.

Arising out of that reply, will these men be sent into the Volunteers, as that seems a suitable position for them?

That requires notice.

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been drawn to a suggestion made by the chairman of the London Appeal Tribunal, on Thursday last, that an intimation should be given that men of forty-seven years of age and upwards liable for military service should not be called up until October next, except in the event of such a national emergency as is contemplated in Section 3 of the recent Military Service Act?

had questions on the Paper in identical terms.

I have seen the reports of the suggestion made by the Chairman of the London Appeal Tribunal (Sir Donald Maclean) and also heard his speech during the Committee stage of the Military Service Act, 1918 (2). As was explained by my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service, the age of fifty was adopted after most careful consideration, and having in mind not only the reinforcement of the fighting services, but the maintenance so far as possible of the commercial fabric of the nation. It was also considered that the fixing of the age at fifty would assist in alleviating the inevitable personal hardships caused by the present grave crisis.

I regret, therefore, that it is not possible for the Government to depart from its considered policy, which was endorsed by both Houses of Parliament.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he will state if it is proposed to call up under the new Bill head and assistant schoolmasters over the age of forty-one, in view of the present depleted state of the teaching profession?

The cases of schoolmasters who are liable for military service are the subject of administrative arrangements which have already been current for a long time. Instructions have been issued from time to time by the Minister of National Service, after consultation with the Board of Education and the Scottish Education Department, affording protection from recruitment to schoolmasters within certain limits as to age and medical grade. These instructions apply to men whose liability for military service arises under the new Act, and it is not intended to modify them without previous reference to the Departments above referred to.

asked the Minister of National Service if ho will say what steps he proposes to take under the Military Service Act to protect the fire brigades from further depletion of officers and men, especially in the war zones, where fire brigades are now working at the lowest strength compatible with the public safety?

Men in public fire brigades are in a certified occupation, and no change is contemplated which would endanger the efficiency of this important public service.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that there are men in this country of forty-two to forty-five years of age who have served for twenty to twenty-three years in the Army, who are physically fit yet for service, who have been offering themselves month after month to the War Office for further service, and who have been persistently refused by many officials of that Department; and will he say whether such men will be utilised in the present great demand for men?

I am not aware of any cases in which men referred to by my hon. Friend who are fit for service in the Army have been refused; and can assure him that no man within the ages stated who offers himself for re-enlistment will be refused by the Ministry of National Service, provided that he is physically fit for service and is not engaged in an occupation which makes his retention in civil life clearly desirable in the national interest.

With regard to that assurance, will the soldiers get the same rank that they last held, or will officers be asked to join the ranks?

I think my hon. Friend had better ask the War Office about that matter, which I am sure they have under their consideration.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the War Office has been refusing such men?

asked the Minister of National Service whether, in view of the necessity of more careful inquiry as to the health of the elder men to be called up under the new Military Service Act, he will arrange that the opinion of the private medical attendants of called-up men shall be taken more fully into consideration?

Under the Instructions issued to medical boards, M.N.S.R. 24, which have already been published, the boards are directed to give full consideration to medical certificates given by general practitioners or consultants, and I have every reason to believe that this Instruction is being fully carried out. The Instructions also provide that where necessary reference may be made to the man's usual medical attendant. It is intended to issue further special Instructions dealing with the medical examination and grading of the older men.