§ 41. Mr. JOWETTasked whether soldiers who have been released or transferred to Class W Army Reserve to work in shipbuilding yards at Barrow and elsewhere were promised, on being sent direct from the Army to their present work without being allowed an interval of leave, that they would get holiday leave and free railway vouchers as munition workers; whether he will insist on the promise being kept, notwithstanding the present restrictions on the issue of free travelling warrants, and especially in view of the fact that many of the men concerned are skilled or semi-skilled men employed as labourers and have been put to considerable expense for the purchase of working and other necessary civilian clothing on leaving the Army and cannot afford to pay railway fares to enable them to travel long distances to their homes when the works close for the annual holidays, which commence at the end of this month?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY of the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)I am not aware of any special promise having been made to soldiers who have been released or transferred to Class W Army Reserve to work in shipbuilding yards. The transfer and allocation of such men is in the hands of officials of the Admiralty and the Ministry of Labour. I may, however, say that the restrictions that have recently been imposed on the issue of cheap week-end tickets to munition workers employed at a distance from their homes do not in any way affect the grant of free railway warrants to their homes to Army Reserve munition workers on the occasion of general holidays.