Mr. PARKINSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention of the Government to relax the Orders issued in 1915 by the Lords Commissioners 1596W of His Majesty's Treasury with regard to Civil servants on military service; and whether it is the intention of the Government to reinstate all such men who joined the Army without permission in the positions they occupied when they enlisted?
§ Mr. BALDWINI am not quite clear to what Orders the first part of the question refers. Instructions were issued last summer under which heads ofDepartments are authorised, subject to certain conditions, to reinstate at their discretion Civil servants who had joined His Majesty's Forces without permission before the 21st March, 1918. Since then it has been found possible to extend this concession,and favourable consideration is now being given to applications for reinstatement of any men who absented themselves from civil duty with a view to joining the Colours after that date.