§ 14. Mr. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lieutenant Radcliff, of the Royal Defence Corps, on Sunday, 16th July, visited the house of a railway platelayer named D. Roach, of Lake Viaduct, Sourton, near Bridestowe, when he posted a guard at the door and himself entered without knocking, and proceeded to make a search of the whole premises; and, in view of the fact that this has occurred twice in six weeks, and also that complaints are made about a sergeant at Meldon Viaduct, Okehampton, interfering with railwaymen in the performance of their duties, whether he will have inquiries made into the matter and put a stop to this attempt at subjugation of the civilians of the district?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiry is being made, and the report received will, with the hon. Member's permission, be communicated to him by letter.
§ 15. Mr. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the men of the Yorkshire unit of the Royal Defence Corps, stationed at Eastcote (P.O.W.) Camp, have been away from their county for over eighteen months, and when visiting their families have had to pay anything from 11s. to 20s. for railway fare, whilst at the same time units from other counties are doing duty in Yorkshire, e.g., the Leicesters at Selby; and, in view of the promise made at the beginning of the War that all National Reserves should do duty as far as possible in their own county, whether he will consider relieving the Yorkshire company at Eastcote by some Midland unit or by a company which has been in Yorkshire all the time?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not aware of the particular circumstances mentioned, and if any promise such as that mentioned by my hon. Friend was made, it was probably made by the local Territorial Force Association without any authority. The terms of enlistment cover service in any place in the United Kingdom. It would be impossible that all men should do duty near their own homes, but I am able to inform my hon. Friend that a readjustment is being made in the location of various units of the Royal Defence Corps, and every regard will be paid to the convenience of the men on the particular point in question when this is possible.