60. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the pre-war employers of Private Thomas Atherton, No. 125637, 34th Battalion, M.G.C., B Company, No. 4 Section, British Expeditionary Force, France, made application for his demobilisation on the 18th December last; that the soldier received his papers a week later, and his commanding officer informed him that he would be demobilised, but subsequently he was sent to Troisdorf with his regiment, and he has heard nothing more of his demobilisation; and whether he will make inquiries into this case?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that Private Atherton is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release, and it would appear from the information given that the application made by his employers was either the usual "contract" offer of employment or was such as to obtain his registration as a "slip" man. Neither "contract" nor "slip" men are entitled to early demobilisation, but they are registered, and if eligible they receive a certain priority of release. The release of Private Atherton is dependent on his being eligible under current instructions. I deprecate the asking of questions about individuals whose cases reveal no novel point of principle. Such a course, if widely adopted, would throw an undue burden upon Members of Parliament as well as upon the public Departments.