35. Mr. ALFRED DAVIES (Clitheroe)asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the number of dismissals of civilian clerks employed at the Royal Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Records, Woolwich; whether he is aware that these men volunteered their services when the country was in need, being unfit for military service, and that these positions are now being filled up by Regular soldiers; whether he can state if it is the policy of the Army Council to staff these offices with Regular soldiers; and whether he will give this matter his consideration in view of the amount of distress which will be caused by these dismissals?
§ Major TRYONThe policy of the Department is to employ disabled and demobilised soldiers wherever possible. The number of civilian clerks employed in military record offices is reduced from time to time by substitution or in proportion to the decrease of work in the offices. All Regular soldiers employed in the office mentioned have left or will have been demobilised or discharged by the end of April. There are, however, seven surplus Battery Sergeant-Majors at present temporarily employed.