HC Deb 27 February 1919 vol 112 cc1973-4W
Sir WATSON RUTHERFORD

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the demobilisation of a number of the men with the 53rd Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers, in Egypt, was ordered at the beginning of February; whether the Director of Army Signals cancelled the whole of the orders; whether these men are engaged on civilian work, building telegraph lines for the post-war period; whether the Director of Army Signals is to be made the Director of Telegraphs in Egypt after the War; and whether, seeing that 6,000 Royal Engineer telegraphists are being used in place of skilled trade unionists, he will inquire and state what authority the prospective Director of Telegraphs has for this endeavour to retain military labour?

Captain GUEST

I am not aware of this, but I will make, inquiries and inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.