HC Deb 08 May 1918 vol 105 cc2128-30
59. Colonel Sir F. HALL

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will cause a Return to be issued without delay giving the number of officers and men up to the age of forty years, fit for service overseas, who are employed in the various Departments of the Admiralty, War Office, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Munitions, Ministry of National Service, Food Ministry, and the Civil Service; and whether instructions will be forthwith issued to the majority of these officers and men to proceed abroad and their positions refilled by those who have been wounded or are unfit for general service?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The number of officers and men serving in the Army who are employed in the undermentioned Departments, and who are under the age of forty years and fit for general service overseas, is as follows:

Department. Officers. Men.
Admiralty 34 11*
War Office 227 41†
Air Ministry 31 Nil.‡
Ministry of Munitions 498 Nil.
Ministry of National Service 5 Nil. §
Ministry of Food 5 Nil.
Other Government Departments. 13 — ║
* This includes a civil engineer-in-chief and ten draughtsmen.
†These are specialists.
‡Does not include men of the Royal Air Force.
§There are four men in Scotland, categories not known, but presumably not Al
║ Information not available.
As regards the last part of the question, no such peremptory Order as suggested could reasonably be given. Each case must be considered on its merits. As far as the War Office is concerned, there is a constant interchange between the War Office and the different theatres of war.

Sir F. HALL

Is it not possible to make some changes with regard to this large number of officers, so that their services could be utilised in other spheres in connection with the War?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I can only speak directly for the War Office, but, with regard to the other Departments, when representation is made to us about individual officers we are assured by Departments asking for the services of an individual officer that he has the personal qualifications and is the very officer they want.

Sir F. HALL

But is it not the fact that many officers over the age of forty are quite as capable of carrying out the work as these other officers? Is there any special reason why these specific officers should in all these cases be asked for?

Mr. MACPHERSON

In each case it is a question purely of individual capacity.

Captain CARR-GOMM

Have any of these officers and men already been abroad?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Again I can only speak for the War Office. I am quite certain that the great majority of them have been abroad and have been wounded. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman puts down a question with regard to any individual Department I will make inquiries.