§ 89. Major HUNTasked the Minister of National Service whether, in view of the uncertainty on the matter felt by discharged sailors and soldiers he can definitely state whether discharged sailors and soldiers have one year in which to find work of national importance or whether it is one month or thirteen months; and do the conditions vary with men discharged under different circumstances?
§ Mr. BECKI think I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that there are not many discharged sailors and soldiers who have not received full information as to the time during which they may find work of national importance. I may add, however, that an Instruction is on the point of being issued under which all men. who have not already been informed of the date on which under the former concessions they are to find work of national importance, and who fall within paragraph 4 b of the First Schedule to the Military Service (No. 2) Act, 1918, are to be allowed an "opportunity period" of six months from the date of their discharge or one month from 1st June, 1918, whichever is the later date in which to obtain such work.
§ Major HUNTWill the hon. Gentleman see that the matter is made quite plain in his Instruction, because the men complain to me that they cannot understand what the Regulations really are?
§ Mr. BECKAs my hon. and gallant Friend knows, there have undoubtedly been many changes, and the subject is complicated; but we hope this new Instruction will be very plain, and enable each man to see definitely how he stands.