§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that a number of officers of Customs and Excise are desirous of being allowed the opportunity of joining His Majesty's naval or military forces; whether he will state if the reason for refusing permission for eligible officers of Customs and Excise to join His Majesty's naval or military forces is that the Treasury would be responsible for the full payment of the present salary of officers of Customs and Excise if they were allowed and did become members of His Majesty's naval or military forces; and whether he will say if officers of Customs and Excise who are now eligible to join His Majesty's naval or military forces, and who are refused permission to join by the Board of Customs and Excise, will be allowed to do so if they agree to join as ordinary citizens and do not claim any salary or payment beyond that given to every man who enlists and who is not a member of the Civil Service?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. A large number of members of the Department, including men of the officer grade, have already joined the Colours with permission, and the sole reason for refusing permission in other cases is the impossibility of releasing more men owing to pressure of work, largely special war work done for the War Office or Admiralty, as explained in the answers given to the hon. and gallant Member for Melton on the 3rd March and the hon. Member for the College Division of Glasgow on the 9th March. The third part of the question does not therefore, arise. I may add that, even with the present numbers, it has been found impossible to afford the naval and military authorities the whole of the assistance for which they have asked.