§ 14. Major O'NEILLasked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to redeem the promise which he made that a preference in demobilisation would be given to voluntarily enlisted soldiers; and can he state the number of such men, apart from those who have re-engaged or enlisted since the termination of hostilities, still remaining in the Army?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt has always been the War Office policy to release wherever possible men who have served longest or who enlisted voluntarily, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the instructions governing demobilisation which have been issued from time to time, wherein specific provision is made for preferential treatment of voluntarily enlisted men. I regret that there are no figures available which would enable me to give the information asked for in the last part of the question. Any such men not yet demobilised are now included among those eligible for demobilisation.
§ Major O'NEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary of State for War specifically promised that definite 454 instructions should be sent out for the prior release of these voluntarily enlisted men at the end of last Session?
§ Mr. FORSTERI think the promise my right hon. Friend gave has been redeemed.
§ Major O'NEILLIs it not a fact that there still remain large numbers of voluntarily enlisted men in the Army?
§ Mr. FORSTERI do not think my right hon. Friend promised that these men should be released within a given date, but as soon as possible, and that is being done.
Colonel L. WARDWould it not be possible to arrange that men who volunteered and were rejected on medical grounds, and were subsequently conscripted should have the same privileges with regard to demobilisation as men who joined up voluntarily?
§ Mr. FORSTERI will see if anything can be done in that direction.