asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he receives from British Ministers or consular authorities in Allied countries periodic statements as to the number of certificates of exemption from military services granted to British subjects of military age in their various countries; and whether he can state how many such exemptions have been given by the British authorities in Russia, Italy, and Japan, respectively?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have no information as to the number of exemptions given to British subjects in Russia and Italy. As regards Japan, with which country there is no military service convention, exemption certificates as such are not issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a military convention with the United States has been concluded or is in contemplation whereby Conscription for military service may be enforced on the subjects of either country in the other's territories; and, if not, whether and for how long negotiations have been pending on this subject?

Yes, Sir; a military service convention between this country and the United States of America was signed at Washington on 19th February last. The instrument, however, must be ratified by the King and the President of the United States before it becomes operative, and, as the hon. Member is doubtless aware, the President of the United States may only ratify a treaty with the consent of the Senate, which body is still considering the convention. It is, however, hoped that the convention may be ratified shortly.

asked the Minister of National Service if he is aware that men of the Army Reserve are being called up for medical examination, that, in consequence, they are losing time and wages at the pit and other occupations, in some instances losing several days, especially men from the Houghton-le-Spring Division of Durham; if he will say what provi- sion is made for such men in the way of remuneration and to whom do they apply; and if arrangements will be made for such not being called until medical examination can be promptly made and thus prevent the inconvenience of long waiting and other war-time difficulties connected with absence from home?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I understand that every endeavour is being made to secure prompt examination. The men should have received pay while detained, but some difficulty appears to have occurred locally in the payment, and fresh instructions are being issued. I am, however, having urgent inquiries made, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Service whether young men of twenty-nine and thirty of military fitness are being exempted for the reason that they are in charge of drapery and fancy goods departments of warehouses; and, if so, is he aware that men of forty-seven to fifty years, married and in some cases with young families, can readily be got with knowledge of such trades, and, in any case, discharged soldiers who have done their share of the fighting could be got with such knowledge?

Exemptions of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend, as far as they exist, have been granted by tribunals after inquiry into the circumstances of each case. Such exemptions constantly come under review, and in all such cases National Service representatives bring to the notice of tribunals relevant facts of the kind indicated by my hon. Friend.

In the review to which the hon. Gentleman refers were the facts stated in this question, as to young men being retained and older men taken, considered?

If my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind I will be very glad to hear them, but, as he knows, this is one of these cases which are left to the tribunal, and I assume that decisions are taken in accordance with the facts brought to their notice.

On the question of reference to the Ministry of National Service, are these cases reviewed by some body superior to the tribunal?

They are constantly being reviewed. We review all these cases quite regularly.

asked the Minister of National Service if the trade union officials who have been exempted through the Trade Union Committee are still protected; and whether trade union officials of older age who are now liable to be called up for military service, many of whom arc occupying positions of great responsibility, will have their cases considered by the same committee or whether other means are open to them to claim exemption on account of the nature of their work?

There has been no change in the position of the trade union officials referred to with regard to exemption from military service, except that in February last an Instruction was issued under which names of full-time executive or organising officials and district secretaries of trade unions might be submitted for special exemption, and also certain branch secretaries of the higher ages and lower medical grades. Before any alteration is made in the existing Instruction which would affect men made liable to service by the raising of the military age, due notice will be given.

asked the Minister of National Service if he will give a ruling on the practice of the Department in interpreting the concession that the only surviving son of a widow who has lost one or more sons in the War shall not be called up for military service; whether the National Service representative on the Carnarvonshire County Appeal Tribunal was justified in maintaining that the concession did not apply to the case of a widow who gave birth to a son three months after the death of the father, which child is now two months old, the only other child of. the widow being a son of military age who is the sole support of his mother; whether the concession applies in the case of the only surviving son of a widower who has lost two sons in the War, one seriously wounded and another in the hospital, and a fifth now serving in Mesopotamia; and whether the National Service representative was justified in maintaining that the term, "the only surviving son of a widow," did not include the case of a widower in the case indicated?

I assume that the concession to which the hon. Member refers is the provision in the Proclamation of the 20th April permitting application for exemption to be made to a tribunal on the part of a man decertified by the Proclamation if he is the last surviving son of a widow of whom at least one son has died as a result of wounds received in, or sickness contracted by, service with the forces during the present War, The limits of this provision are clearly defined, and, although I recognise that cases of inevitable hardship will occur outside the scope of the provision, I regret that it is not possible to extend its application beyond the limits laid down, which were decided upon after full consideration of the difficulties involved.

Has the hon. Gentleman seen the report in the Press on Saturday of the only surviving son of a widow being taken because of the birth of another son some months ago, and does the National Service Department accept that decision?

I have seen the case, and unfortunately it has been my duty to see many most distressing cases, but as regards the last part of the question it is a matter for the decision of the Government as a whole. The emergency is very great. This method of recruiting men was put into effect only after what happened in France, and my right hon. Friend has to advise the Government that, distressing though it may be, men cannot be obtained unless the strictest regard is paid to the rule which has been laid down.

Are we to understand that the representative of the Ministry of National Service in the case mentioned has contended that a child two months old must be regarded as disqualifying the widow from the protection given as regards the only surviving son?

Can the Government explain how a child two months old is going to be able to support the widowed mother? Mr. BECK: It is not a question of support. That should be dealt with by separation allowances. The Regulation is an endeavour to prevent an entire family being wiped out. I agree that cases of distressing hardship are brought to our notice, but as the War lengthens it brings ever greater sorrow in its train. This we must face if the War is to be won.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Italian Government has just made a series of wide exemptions dealing with such cases?

I am not aware of it.

Has any calculation been made to see what would be lost to the Army by trying to meet such extremely grave and hard cases?

Yes. We have endeavoured to make calculations. There are very few data available, but we do believe that once you open this door wider— it is open to a small extent already— it will mean many thousands of cases.

Can the hon. Gentleman state what the figure of his calculation was?

I could not possibly do that.

asked the Minister for National Service if he is aware that London workmen who are temporarily resident in Dundee, as War Munition Volunteers, and in receipt of absence pay as being permanently resident in London, are being called up by the Munition Area Dilution Officer of Dundee, who has informed them that the notices will be postponed for one week to enable them to return home, but that they must return to Dundee, both journeys being undertaken at the men's own expense; whether it was understood that War Munition Volunteers would, upon the termination of their employment, be returned to the place where they were originally engaged; and whether, in such and similar cases, he will direct that the men shall be permitted to return to their homes and be called up from London?

War Munitions Volunteers engaged on munitions work are called up for service by the Munitions Area Recruiting Officer of the area in which they are registered when released for military service by the Ministry of Munitions or the Admiralty, as the case may be. As my light hon. Friend is aware, the agreement made by a War Munition Volunteer on enrolment is made with the Minister of Munitions, but I am informed by the Ministry of Munitions that it is not part of the agreement that a War Munition Volunteer, on the termination of his employment, should be returned to the place where he was engaged, but that cases are dealt with on their merits. I am making inquiries as to the cases referred to in Dundee, and I have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Munitions to the points raised by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the medical examination and classification of men of middle age has so far enabled him to form an opinion as to the percentage of men fit for military service of a useful character that will be obtained; and whether, until the total number of young men that the protected industries will give him has been ascertained, and the necessary quota of recruits obtained from Ireland, he intends proceeding with the examination or calling up of the middle-aged recruit in Great Britain?

The number of medical examinations of the class of men referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend is not yet sufficient to enable any definite conclusions to be drawn. The results of such examinations are being carefully observed, but I ought to state that it is not at present considered advisable that any announcement should be made publicly as to the results of these examinations. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Government has no intention of departing from the policy which was fully explained when the Bill was before the House.

asked the Minister of National Service whether the call up of the younger men from protected occupations is proceeding satisfactorily; whether the result to date is in accordance with expectation; whether large numbers are presenting themselves before their call, especially in the coal-mining areas; and has he any statement to make as to the percentage of recruits which are being passed as fit for active service?

The calling up for service of the men available and released from protected occupations, that is from occupations dealt with under the Schedule of Protected Occupations, M.M. 130 (Revised), is now proceeding as rapidly as the circumstances permit. It is not in the public interest that details of the numbers of or medical categories of recruits being obtained from any particular source should be published at this juncture. Considerable numbers of men who are available for recruitment under the revised Schedule do enlist voluntarily. The same remarks apply to the men who have been released from the coal mines.

asked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that dentists under thirty years of age have been exempt from military service on a finding of the Central Tribunal that there was a shortage of dentists for the needs of the people; whether, under the new Act, older dentists who possess the medical qualification but have never practised medicine are being pressed into the Royal Army Medical Corps; and, if so, will he explain why the older men are being taken first?

The administrative arrangement to which my hon. Friend refers does not confer exemptions on dentists under thirty years of age, but lays down certain conditions on which dental practitioners may in proper cases be exempted by tribunals. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and the third part, therefore, does not arise.