§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that an Army Council Instruction, No. 1,182, of the 27th of July, 1917, was issued directing the review of all transfers to Class W and Class P Army Reserve with the object of discharging unfit men, he will state how many of these transfers have been reviewed, and how many men have been discharged and pensioned since that date?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Army Council Instruction referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend merely summarised the history and present position of Classes W. and P. of the Reserve. In order to regularise the position of all men who had been transferred to Class W of the Reserve, including those men who were transferred to that class of the Reserve before the formation of Class P., an Army Council Instruction was issued on the 13th of March, 1917, directing the review of all such transfers. Under the Instruction 60,515, Class W. Reservists were circularised. Up to the 31st January, 1918, 56,007 replies had been received, and the investigation of 54,890 cases had been completed. As a result of the review of these oases, 18,730 men were transferred to Class P. of the Reserve or discharged. All these cases were submitted to the Ministry of Pensions with a view to the consideration of their claims for pension.