HC Deb 11 March 1919 vol 113 cc1112-3W
Colonel THORNE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are about 500,000 men in the Labour Corps, many of them below Grade B 1 and cannot enlist in the new Army; if he is aware that the Labour Corps was not formed until 1917; what position these men are in seeing that the Army of Occupation men are men called up after 1916?

Captain GUEST

The number of men in the Labour Corps is 231,000. Although the Labour Corps was not formed until 1917, a very large number of the men are eligible for demobilisation. The remainder are liable to be retained for service in the Army of Occupation.