HC Deb 02 July 1919 vol 117 cc949-51
31. Mr. CLOUGH

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a passport has been issued to John William Chapman. 19, Hothfield Street, Silsden, near Keighley, to visit the Army of Occupation in Germany in connection with the transport of live poultry; and whether, in view of the man's views and the feeling in the Army, he will suggest to Chapman's employer that he should select some other employ é for the journey?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)

No application for a passport has as yet been received from the person referred to. I understand that permits to enter the occupied zone are not given in any case by the military authorities until after full inquiry.

37. Mr. HURD

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the result of the promised inquiries into four complaints from soldiers regarding messing arrangements in the Army of Occupation on the Rhine; whether it is still the case that soldiers have to go from 4.30 p.m. till 8 a.m. without food unless they buy it for themselves; and whether it now costs a soldier in that Army all his bonus to buy extra food?

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

An experienced officer has recently been sent to the Army of the Rhine, and has made' full inquiry into the messing arrangements. He reports that some complaints arose in cases where units were in process of reforming, due to the shortage of trained cooks owing to demobilisation, and also where units sent from this country came on to the overseas field service ration from the home scale. The Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Rhine has given close personal attention to the messing of the troops. Certain additions have been made to the ration, and everything possible is being done to remove all reasonable ground of complaint. The staff of the Army School of Cookery at Cologne has been doubled, and additional instructors, both officers and non-commissioned officers, have been appointed. The field service ration is good in quality and sufficient in quantity to provide suppers for all who require them, and orders have been given that this is to be done.

Lieut.-Colonel THORNE

Has the War Office taken into consideration the purchasing power of money in this country and on the Rhine, as this makes a good deal of difference?

Mr. FORSTER

We want to prevent that question arising by providing full meals for our troops.