§ 92. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give an assurance that no officer or man in the British battalion of the Khartoum garrison, who joined the Army before 1st January, 1916, will be ordered to proceed to the Sudan, but will remain in Egypt until the necessary shipping is available to bring them home?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have nothing to add to my previous reply to a similar question by my hon. Friend, in which I stated that men due for demobilisation in the British battalion which is detailed for the Khartoum garrison will be released under the same conditions as all other men serving in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. The military authorities in Egypt are in possession of all instructions governing the release of personnel, and their transport home, and it may be accepted that men qualified for release will not be retained for one moment longer than is absolutely necessary.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLDoes not my right hon. Friend see that under that arrangement a man for whom no accommodation could be found to come home might be sent to the Sudan?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think that will occur, but, of course, units have to be kept as units until means of taking men out are found.