§ 58. Mr. Butcherasked the Secretary of State for War whether, where soldiers, who before the war were skilled building operatives, are no longer required upon their present duties, he will discharge them to civil life instead of retraining them for alternative branches of the Army.
§ Sir J. GriggMost of the skilled building operatives in the Army are serving in their trade but nevertheless the Army remains very short of them. I think it is unlikely that it will be possible to release any to civil life at this stage of the war except under the arrangements already in force for releases on grounds of national importance.
§ Sir Joseph NallDoes the right hon. Gentleman not realise there is need for a real scrutiny of the way in which these men are employed? I have particulars of a plumber who is occupied in cleaning roads.
§ Sir J. GriggI am quite prepared to be convicted on individual cases, but one swallow does not make a summer. I am quite prepared to maintain that, in general, the Army is not misusing its men.