§ MR. HICKS BEACH (Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that members of the Post Office staff who wish to carry out their period of field training in the Territorial Army have to find substitutes to carry out their official duties, and that in many cases this involves their paying the wages of substitutes of a higher grade than that to which they themselves belong; and whether, in view of the hardship thus imposed on the more patriotic members of the staff of the Post Office, he will take steps to remove this bar to enlistment in the Territorial Force.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI am in communication with the Treasury on the subject of the regulations which they have laid down in regard to granting leave to Civil Servants who are members of the Territorial Army to enable them to attend training in camp. I hope to receive the reply shortly.
§ EARL WINTERTONIS the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable inconvenience is being caused Civil Servants who are in much doubt as to what will happen this year?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI am also in doubt, but I hope before long to receive an answer from the Treasury.
§ MR. HICKS BEACHSeveral men have already gone into camp and they are suffering the inconvenience.