asked the Minister of National Service if he will have special inquiry made into the case of Mr. Rees Jones, 23, Queen Street, Dowlais, who has been put in Grade 1 notwithstanding the fact that he has produced three doctors' certificates describing his physical disabilities, one of which states that on several occasons he has attended him for appendicitis, and that it is only by exercising the utmost care as regards his diet and general health that he avoids a recurrence of this ailment?

Inquiries have been made into the case of Mr. Rees Jones and a full report has been received, to the effect that he was carefully examined by the No. 1 Cardiff Medical Board, which consists entirely of civilian doctors. The Report shows that full consideration was given to the medical certificates produced by Mr. Rees Jones, and special mention is made in the Report sent to me of the fact that in the past he had been attended for appendicitis. After a thorough examination the Board unanimously classified Mr. Rees Jones as being in Grade 1.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the words "offer- ing themselves for enlistment," in paragraph 4 c of the Schedule of exempted persons in the Military Service Act, relating to the exemption of men who, since 5th April, 1917, have been rejected as being totally and permanently unfit for any form of military service, cover men who did not volunteer but waited until they were called up in the ordinary way?

I think the hon. Member's question raises a matter of the construction of the Act, and that, accordingly, it is not desirable that I should deal directly with it; but I may state that the practice is that under general Instructions issued in April, 1917, and still current, a man is not to be called up for service or for medical examination if he has been duly found to be totally and permanently unfit for any form of military service, and he is given a certificate showing that he is discharged from liability to be called up for military service.

Could the hon. Gentleman say who is able to tell us what is the construction of the Act if it is not the persons who are administering it, and will he deal with the question which I have asked, namely, whether the words in the Act cover the case of all men or only those who really offered themselves and did not wait until the Order was issued for calling them up?

I am sure my hon. Friend is aware of the fact that this rather intricate legal point was submitted to a Committee of Law and that a decision was given. It is really a highly technical legal point, and it would be unfortunate to deal with it here by question and answer.

Are we to understand that the National Service Department have given instructions construing these words as if they cover all these men whether they offered themselves voluntarily or came up for service under the Military Service Act?

My hon. Friend had better look at the answer that I have given, which, I think, covers the point.

Will the hon. Gentleman say when any case was decided in a Court of law subsequent to the passing of the Act? It never has been decided.

What was the decision to which the hon. Gentleman referred?

The case was one in which a man offered himself voluntarily two days before he was required to report himself. I forget the date of it. The Court gave a decision in his favour.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult the Law Officers and give a considered reply?

It is not in the least necessary. It is a purely technical point, and the administration is entirely in favour of the men.

asked the Minister of National Service (1) whether, in accordance with the undertaking he gave during the passage of the Military Service Act, he has taken steps to appoint a Committee to deal with the release of men of military age now employed in Government offices; does this Committee consist of members who have already gained experience on military tribunals and are unconnected with any Government Department themselves; (2) whether he intends to employ an independent Committee, unconnected with his own Department, to grant releases for military service to men of military age now employed in his Department?

My right hon. Friend has invited a large and distinguished body to act as his representatives in the forthcoming inquiry into the exemptions from military service held by men of military age in the employment of Government Departments. This body will form a panel, consisting of gentlemen not in the Civil Service, many of whom have had experience of tribunal work, and will, I hope, include Members of both Houses of Parliament and representatives of various professions and of business pursuits. The list will be published as soon as it is settled. It is intended that representatives from this panel shall be allocated to the inquiry held in each Department, and that at each inquiry the Department concerned shall be represented. As far as possible the inquiries will be carried on simultaneously, so that the whole investigation may be completed as soon as possible. The Ministry of National Service will, of course, be dealt with in exactly the same way as other Government offices.

Will the gentlemen on this tribunal be unconnected with any Government Department?

I do not know what my hon. and gallant Friend means by unconnected with any Government Department. It would be very difficult to find any distinguished gentlemen of to-day unconnected with Government Departments.

Is it to be understood that the decision of this tribunal will be binding, and that there will be no power left to the separate Departments to override the decision?

No; the final power rests with my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service.

When is it proposed to issue the return that was promised of all those of military age employed in Government Departments?

I hope very soon, but I will inquire.

Will there be any discharged men on this panel?

I had better have notice of that question.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that Government Departments cease to enrol further men of military age while this inquiry is going on?

I will consider that point.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the number of men employed at his Ministry under the age of forty-one; how many of these have been classified as fit for some form of military service; and what Instructions have been issued to prevent the future employment in his Department of men under the age of forty-five if they have been passed fit for any form of military service?

The number of men under the age of forty-one on the headquarters staff of the Ministry is 370. Of these 120 are on loan from the War Office or have been discharged from the Army. Of the remainder, 225 have been classified as fit for some form of military service, and of these a very large majority have been placed in Grade 3, or corresponding categories. It is considered that Grade 3 men who have any special qualification for the work of the Ministry of Food are of greater value to the nation in that Ministry than elsewhere. A committee or tribunal consisting of members of the Ministry of National Service and of this Ministry has been engaged for some months in reviewing the military position of the male staff of the Ministry, and no man fit for any form of military duty will be retained without the consent of the Ministry of National Service.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many men of military age are employed outside the Ministry, not in London, but in other parts of the country?

I should require notice of that question, which would involve a great deal of extensive investigation.

Would it not have a great deal better effect it an independent Committee were set up to inquire into this matter, instead of representatives of the different Departments, who are very interested in keeping these men?

I think that the interests of the Army may be entrusted to the National Service Department.

I do not think so.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many of the men loaned from the War Office who are not discharged men are of military age?

My answer indicates that many of them are below forty-one years of age.

Is it not a fact that Grade 3 men in the Government Departments are not the same as Grade 3 men in ordinary civil employment, by special arrangement with the medical boards.

asked the Minister of National Service whether a time-expired man recalled to the Colours under the new Military Service Act will be entitled to be restored to his former rank?

Yes, Sir. Any man discharged on the termination of his engagement will, if recalled to the Colours, be restored to his former rank.

asked the Minister of National Service if an officer or non commissioned officer recalled for service under the new Military Service Act who has previously left or been discharged from the Service will, whether still partially disabled or not, be entitled to be restored to his former rank, as provided by Section 2 of the Review of Exceptions Act now repealed?

The conditions under which former rank can be restored are under consideration.

asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been directed to the recent proceedings of the Mansfield Woodhouse local tribunal and the language used by the National Service representative; and whether he has taken any action in the matter?

Inquiries are being made into this matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman announce the result of his inquiry in the House?

I will if my hon. Friend will put down a question.

asked the Prime Minister whether the enforcement of the Military Service Act in Ireland has been postponed; and, if so, to what date?

I cannot add anything to the statement which the Prime Minister made in the House on the 29th April, when he clearly indicated the intentions of the Government, which have undergone no change.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when or before what date the Order in Council will not be laid before the House?

No; I cannot make a statement of that kind.