§ 96. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for War how many surveyors of works serving abroad have been released with their age and service groups and how many have been compulsorily deferred; and what the comparable figures are for surveyors of works serving at home.
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§ Mr. BellengerSince the release scheme started, 36 surveyors of works serving overseas have been compulsorily deferred for a period of three months. It has not been necessary to defer any serving in home commands. I regret that it is not possible readily to divide by home and overseas commands the number released with their age and Service Groups or under Class B, but the combined total for home and overseas is 177.
§ 97. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no surveyors of works in M.E.L.F. are released with their age and service groups; and how long he expects that compulsory deferment of this category of officers will continue.
§ Mr. BellengerI am aware that the majority of surveyors of works in M.E.L.F. have been deferred for periods up to three months before being released. The demand for this type of specialist in M.E.L.F. is, and has been since the commencement of the release scheme, very acute, owing to the special problems of the theatre. I hope that the necessity to defer the release of this category of officers in M.E.L.F. will not continue for more than three months longer.
§ Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for War how many applications he has received for short service commissions as surveyors of works; how many commissions have been granted and how many refused.
§ Mr. BellengerThere have been 19 applicants, three of whom have been accepted as surveyors of works, and one as a combatant officer. Seven have been rejected and eight applications are still under consideration. Not all the applicants held the necessary professional qualifications.