§ 73. Mr. HUGH MORRISONasked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds the military authorities are refusing to release from the Army Sapper J. Billen, No. 133221, 350th E. and M. C, Royal Engineers, British Expeditionary Force, France, seeing that he is forty-eight years of age and joined the Army in 1915?
Captain GUESTSapper Billen is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there trace of any application having been received on his behalf by the War Office. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demo- 1214 bilisation unless he is serving under prewar conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Engineers, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation. I would also remind my hon. Friend that senior officers have been appointed to inspect registers of units with a view to ensuring that no officer or man who is eligible for demobilisation is being retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Mr. INSKIPIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the first part of his answer is the common form of answer which hon. Members receive, and will he take steps to see that questions addressed to the Demobilisation Department are answered according to the facts stated in the inquiry and not according to the form?
Captain GUESTThe volume of questions which come to the Department is almost overwhelming, and unless a certain amount of duplication was resorted to it would be impossible to get the correspondence through in time.