HC Deb 03 July 1918 vol 107 cc1695-6
16. Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERY

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the number of men enlisted as soldiers now employed on the land away from their homes instead of being sent back to their homes, where they could be equally employed; whether all allowances to the wives of such men are upon the full scale; and whether he will consider the advisability of continuing family life combined with economy by the system of allocating to their own districts enlisted soldiers who are sent back to work on the land?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 16th April last to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor.

Sir F. FLANNERY

Since that reply was given has the evil not greatly spread and accentuated, and will some better steps not be taken than those indicated in the reply?

Mr. FORSTER

I indicated in that reply the actual allocation of the men in the districts dealing with food production. I understand that they are making every effort to get the men returned to their own distrcts, where they will be able to live at home.