§ 7. Earl Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for War if it is intended to publish in the divisional and brigade orders of the units concerned an appreciation of the work done in the London Docks by various units of the Army.
§ Mr. ShinwellAn appreciation of the fine work done by the troops at the London Docks is being sent to all the units concerned for publication in orders.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWhile I am not objecting to that, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he is aware that the best way to show our appreciation is to give the men extended leave for the very fine work they have done? Will he consider that?
§ Mr. ShinwellNo, I am afraid I cannot. These men undertook duties in the national interest, but they were in precisely the same position as many other men who were not similarly occupied but who undertook other duties.
§ Earl WintertonWould the right hon. Gentleman tell the House if it was purely a coincidence that it was not until my Question appeared on the Paper that Ministers began to realise the debt they owed to the troops?
§ Mr. ShinwellI can hardly think that we require to invoke my right hon. Friend opposite in order to express appreciation of the services rendered by our men in the Forces.
§ 20. Earl Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the employment of Army personnel at the London Docks has interfered with regimental and brigade training for troops stationed in the British Isles.
§ Mr. ShinwellThere has unfortunately been some interference with regimental training as a result of the employment of soldiers at the London Docks, but not on an extensive scale. No brigade training has been arranged for this month.
§ Earl WintertonIn view of the difficulty of training the Army at the present time and of the frequency with which troops have been used in the last year or so in this and similar strikes, will the right hon. Gentleman consider in future adopting the alternative method of calling for civilian volunteers, after a clarion call by the Minister of Labour, singing, for example, "The Red Flag"?
§ Mr. ShinwellAs the noble Lord is aware, I am not responsible for the production of civilian labour. As for singing "The Red Flag," I regard it as a very desirable thing to do.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWill my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that the men will not be made to suffer for this by an intensified training, which is apt to take place after an event of this kind?
§ Mr. ShinwellI have made very careful inquiries into this matter. The interference with training is infinitesimal, and it will not interfere with any operations.