§ 9. Mr. WIGNALLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the chief engineer, Aldershot Command, has issued an order to the effect that only ex-Royal Engineers are to be employed on Royal Engineers' work: whether such order has been sanctioned by the War Office; whether he is aware that it will operate very unfairly upon ex-service men generally, especially those who had been previously employed on this work and were temporarily discharged on the ground of economy; whether work is now being held up pending the availability of ex-Royal Engineers to be discharged from the service and to be brought in from other districts; and whether, in view of the large amount of unemployment prevailing in Aldershot, he will have the order reconsidered?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 1st August to the hon. Member for the Govan Division of Glasgow. In regard to the last part of the question, no work is being held up for the reason suggested.