§ 7. Mr. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for War whether the soldiers supplied to the private contractor engaged in laying about twenty-six miles of light railway in connection with No. 2 Filling 1626 Factory, Aintree, Liverpool, were, except for a bonus of 15s. for about three months' work, only paid Army rates, whilst the contractor's own men were paid the trade union rate obtaining in the district; and, having regard not only to the feeling on the matter among the soldiers concerned, but also the question involved of industrial conscription, whether he will see that soldiers are not used for industrial purposes?
§ 9. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Secretary of, State for War whether seventy soldiers have been lent for the past two months to the firm of Messrs. Brunner, Mond, and Company, chemical works, at Lostock, Northwich; whether he can state the nature of their employment and whether they receive Army pay only; whether the Army pay is less than the customary wages they would receive as workmen; and, if so, whether the War Office benefits by such an arrangement at the expense of the soldier?
§ Mr. FORSTERI dealt with the general question of the employment of soldiers for industrial work in answer to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport yesterday. I think that answer covers the particular instances referred to.
§ Mr. ANDERSONWhen soldiers are lent as workmen for a period of two months—I understand that period, with the consent of the War Office, can be still further extended—can they not be placed on the Reserve temporarily, so as to retain their civil rights whilst they are so employed, and so that they only come under military control when they rejoin the Army?
§ Mr. FORSTERWhen the men are constantly passing into and out of military service in the manner suggested, there are real practical difficulties. As a rule, we limit these working parties as far as we can, but in cases where men are released for munition work and are passed into the Reserve the practice which my hon. Friend suggests is carried out.
§ Mr. G. FABERWho takes the difference between the amount that Brunner, Mond, and Company pay in wages and the rate in the Army Reserve?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe arrangement which I announced yesterday only applies to eases of working parties where the men go as soldiers under their own officers. In 1627 future the men are going to get the appropriate rate of civilian wages less a proportionate deduction for food, lodging, clothing, etc.
§ Mr. FORSTERThat applies to the past practice, and the State gets it.