§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for War whether a great many men in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force missed their chance of demobilisation owing to the fact that their contract certificates from the local advisory committees did not reach them till after 1st February; and whether a longer period of grace should have been allowed for these men?
Captain GUESTMy Noble and gallant Friend appears to be under a misapprehension as to the effect of a contract offer of employment. The fact of such an offer having been received by a soldier before the 1st February does not entitle him to be demobilised. His demobilisation is dependent on his eligibility under Army Order 55 of 1919. If he is eligible thereunder and is in possession of a "contract" offer of employment he is entitled to a certain priority, irrespective of the date the "contract" offer was received. I am sending my Noble Friend a copy of a Memorandum which was circulated in reply to a question on the 20th March, in which contract and other forms of certificate were fully explained.