§ 42. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of surveyors of works, R.E., have been deferred from release as being operationally vital, in the past 12 months; how many of these were or are in Palestine; how many will be under the same restriction in the next 12 months; how many surveyors of works, R.E., are Regular officers and holders of short-service commissions in both the United Kingdom and Palestine; and how long is compulsory deferment of release to continue.
§ Mr. BellengerTwelve per cent. of surveyors of works, R.E., have been deferred from release as being operationally vital in the past 12 months. All of these were in the Middle East, which includes Palestine; separate figures for Palestine are not available. I hope that compulsory deferment will not be applied after the next three months. Twentyseven Regular surveyors of works, R.E., and i holding a short service Regular commission, are serving at home; corresponding figures for the Middle East are 2 and I respectively.