§ MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the statements sent to his Department by commanding officers respecting the proposed training of soldiers for employment in civil life contain complaints against trade unions, and will be issued as a Parliamentary document; whether he can state the extent to which officers have attempted to carry out the suggestions made to them on this subject; and whether he can take steps to provide that ex-soldiers shall not be used for forms of civil employment at less than the recognised rates and conditions established by the various workmen's organisations.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY To THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. Buchanan, Perth, E.)In accordance with the promise given in another place on May 1405 29th, † a Paper will very shortly be laid on the Table of the House containing a Report on the steps being taken to provide technical instruction to soldiers. These Papers will give the information asked for in the former part of the Question. As regards the latter part of the Question, the employment of soldiers after their return to civil life is subject to the ordinary conditions of labour over which the War Office has no control.