§ 63. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked whether the women in the Royal Engineers, signal section, of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps enlisted under the terms of Army Council Instruction No. 537; whether the authorities are pressing them to re-sign under Army Council Instruction No. 1,069; whether a copy of the Army Council Instruction No. 1,069 is supplied to each woman; and whether he will say what are the changes and conditions involved?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs regards the first part of my hon. Friend's question, all members of Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps employed with the Royal Engineers who enrolled prior to 28th March, 1917, enlisted under the terms of the earlier Instruction quoted. As regards the second part, no pressure is being brought to bear on such women to re-enrol under the later Instruction, but they are in all cases being invited to do so, in order that the position of all members may be equalised. As regard the third part, copies of Army Council Instruction 1,069 of 1917 are not issued to the women, but a copy is shown to any member who may wish to see it. As regards the last part of the question, members enrolled under Army Council Instruction 537 of 1917 are not eligible for service at Home; they receive a yearly bonus of £5 and are paid for overtime 1293 work. Members enrolled under the later Instruction are eligible for service at Home and overseas, and they are paid a flat rate without bonus or overtime, which, on the average, equals the aggregate emoluments received by those enrolled under the earlier Instruction.