§ 35. Mr. THOMAS GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary of State for War whether there are over fifty men in the 561st (Hants) Works Company Royal Engineers, Victoria Barracks, County Cork, who are eligible for demobilisation but who cannot secure their release although they have work waiting for them; and whether he 196 will make inquiries into this matter with a view to these men being given the advantage of the demobilisation scheme?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am not aware of the number of men in the unit referred to who are eligible for demobilisation, but no doubt there are still a number who have not yet been demobilised. Men of this unit are subject to the same regulations regarding demobilisation as men of other units, and those eligible are being demobilised as the exigencies of the Service permit. It may be necessary to retain temporarily for the military machinery of demobilisation some men who are otherwise eligible for demobilisation, but every effort is being made to replace men so retained as early as possible.