§ 19. Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether in connection with the issue of badges to men engaged in the manufacture of munitions of war he will give an exact definition as to what is included in the term munitions of war; and whether their issue is extended to firms other than the armament firms?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. H. Baker)The main classes of material comprised in the term munitions of war are guns, small arms and their respective natures of ammunition, swords, lances, aeroplanes and military motors. The issue of badges is limited to firms supplying this equipment.
§ Mr. TERRELLIs it not equally important to give badges to men who are engaged in all classes of War Office work?
§ Mr. BAKERI think that the ground on which the position has been taken is that it is necessary to make a distinctive badge for certain classes.
§ 21. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware that many men formerly employed in the electrical services of the Metropolis have joined His Majesty's forces; that others are desiring to join and, owing to the technical and expert training required, their places cannot readily be filled, and there is some risk of the power stations, the output of which is largely used for Government purposes, becoming insufficiently manned; that representations have been made, at the instance of the general officer commanding the London district, of the importance of preserving the efficiency of electric and power services of the Metropolis, but that in the absence of some public service or other badge authorised by the Government, which cannot be forged, to protect the men from reproach for not enlisting, it is difficult to persuade them to remain; is he aware that proposals submitted by the Association of Municipal and Electrical Engineers of Greater London have not resulted in any satisfactory solution of the difficulty; and will he consider the question of either authorising the issue of an officially recognised public works badge, or of enlisting the men employed in approved public utility services in a special volunteer body authorised to wear uniform, as in the case of the Civil Service Corps?
§ Mr. TENNANTRecruiting officers have instructions not to enlist skilled employés of electrical services without the sanction of their employers. I am not informed that several electric supply companies, which have applied for War Office badges, have been offered such badges for issue to men of recruitable age who would be willing to enlist if called upon in the event of emergency, or of their ceasing to be urgently required in their present employment.
§ Mr. TOUCHEAre these official badges what I call War Office badges?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes; they have been offered these badges.
§ Mr. TOUCHEOfficial badges?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman how this gift of badges differs from the badges which the last hon. Gentleman referred to as given to those engaged upon munitions of war?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe badges to which my hon. Friend referred are badges exempting the wearer from all war service, inasmuch as he is helping to produce munitions of war. The badges to which I refer would not in all cases exempt a man from such military service, and in the event of emergency arising he would be called upon to serve, unless he were urgently required in his present employment.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLAre two classes of badges issued, and to whom is application to be made for those badges?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhen the hon. Gentleman says there are two classes of badges, that is not so. This has been offered, and has not been accepted. We are prepared to issue it. Applications should be made to the Secretary to the War Office.
§ Mr. TOUCHEIs it a condition of the issue of badge that the man who receives it shall give an undertaking to join the Colours if called upon to do so?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat is so.