§ 40. Sir Robert Youngasked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made in the formation of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; whether he is satisfied that all the necessary skilled craftsmen have been 526 transferred from other regiments to this corps; and what are the decisions of the Army authorities as to its future use and its status as part of the British post-war Army?
§ Sir J. GriggThe formation of this Corps has naturally been made more difficult by urgent preparations for operations and by the operations themselves, but the progress made has nevertheless been highly satisfactory. The question of the further absorption of certain craftsmen from other corps and regiments into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is now receiving active and detailed consideration in its operational and administrative aspects. No engineering tradesman is, however, knowingly employed in any arm of the Service in which full use is not made of his trade. The Corps is a combatant corps of the Regular Army and its future role, as was originally intended, is the maintenance, subject to certain exceptions, of all mechanical and electrical equipment used by the Army.
§ Sir R. YoungWill my right hon. Friend consider the desirability of ensuring that only skilled men are recruited for the Corps in the future?
§ Sir J. GriggI should like to have notice of that Question, but I will certainly consider the point.