§ 12. Sir J. BARRANasked the Under-secretary of State for War the average number of men now being discharged weekly from the Army, and what is the policy and practice of the War Office, before and at discharge, in helping these men to find employment, in view of the general problem of national service?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt is not considered advisable in the public interest to publish any figures with regard to the number of men discharged from the Army.
In order to help soldiers to find employment on discharge, a representative of the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labour is attached to each Discharge Centre, who interviews each soldier before leaving the centre, and places him in employment, or sends particulars of the soldier as regards the employment he desires and the employment for which he is suitable to the Employment Exchange nearest the man's home.
Particulars of all soldiers who are discharged as physically unfit for further War service, or who have become impaired in health since their entry into the Service, are also sent to the local committee of the War Pensions Statutory Committee nearest the man's home.
The conditions of and advantage to the soldier and to the country of his enrolling as a war work volunteer are brought to his notice before leaving the Discharge Centre.
§ Sir J. BARRANIs my hon. Friend aware that, in spite of these steps, a very serious number of men are being discharged who are not, in point of fact, finding employment; and has he satisfied 836 himself that these means and the other means employed are adequate for the purpose?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware of the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. I should have thought that the precautions which were taken and which I have indicated in the answer to my hon. Friend were quite sufficient. If he has any particular facts or any particular cases he would like to bring to my notice I shall be happy to investigate them.
16. Major DAVIESasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the has concluded his inquiry with regard to discharged soldiers now employed at the Post Office who have been deprived of their Army gratuity on their discharge; whether this proceeding is done under War Office instructions; and, having regard to the conditions under which these men enlisted, whether he will explain the reasons for such deductions?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)I have made inquiries, but I can add nothing to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member on the 18th March last by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General.
Major DAVIESIs it a, fact that these gratuities are withheld under instructions from the War Office?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt is the fact that the gratuities are not issued under an Army Council Instruction. That Instruction was issued to give effect to the decision of the Government that the gratuities were not to be paid to these particular men. What happened before that Instruction was that the gratuity was paid and the amount was then recovered from the civilian pay. That was obviously costly and cumbrous. If the decision had to be carried out, this is the simplest way of doing it.