HC Deb 20 March 1919 vol 113 cc2262-5W
Sir ALFRED YEO

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will explain the following technical terms frequently used in connection with demobilisation, such as demobiliser, pivotal men, special release, slip men, and contract men; and if he will state what the position is as regards demobilisation of men registered as belonging to these various categories?

2. Mr. CHURCHILL

Owing to the fact that demobilisation has been carried out largely with a view to the industrial requirements, a number of terms have arisen which it would be well to explain, amongst others are "Demobilisers,"Pivotal Men," "Special Release," "Slip Men" and "Contract Men."

1. (a) Demobilisers.

A demobiliser is an officer or soldier who is required immediately on the cessation of hostilities whether in a military or civil capacity for demobilisation purposes. He was selected by a Government Department and his name Bent to the War Office. The number was limited.

(b) Pivotal Men.

A pivotal man is an officer or soldier required in a civil capacity immediately on the cessation of hostilities for the purposes of national reconstruction. He was selected by the Ministry of Labour from employers' applications and his name sent to the War Office. The number was limited.

(c) Special Release.

In cases where men could not be certified as "pivotal"men the Ministry of Labour selected a number for special release on general industrial grounds and sent the names to the War Office. The number was limited.

Demobilisers, pivotal men, and men recommended for special release are entitled to immediate release subject to military necessities, and whether or not the group to which they belong is open for demobilisation.

The effect of Army Order 55, of 1919, was to do away with demobilisers, pivotal men and special release cases, except in so far as men had already been registered by the War Office before 1st February, 1919. Men so registered, before that date are still entitled to immediate demobilisation (subject to military necessities) whether or not they fall within the classes otherwise eligible for demobilisation under that order, but no men can, since the issuing of the Army Order in question, be recommended for release as demobilisers or on pivotal grounds or for special release on business grounds, and their eligibility for demobilisation is now dependent on the terms of the Army Order.

Compassionate Release.

It should be noted that the Army Order does not in any way affect men who may be demobilised on extreme compassionate grounds, notwithstanding that they are not otherwise eligible under Army Order 55.

3. (a) "Slip "Men.

In order to assist reconstruction in civil life, forms known as Civil Employment Forms were distributed to units. Officers might fill up these forms if they so wished, but all men had to do so. These forms give all necessary particulars concerning the officer or man in question, including his employment in civil life, and the names of his previous employers. The forms when completed were forwarded by officers commanding units to the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry of Labour, after having ascertained that the officer's or man's employment was assured in civil life, post a release slip (which is attached to the form received) to officers commanding units concerned. The officer or man is then registered as a "slip" man, but he is not entitled to immediate orearly demobilisation as is a demobiliser, or a pivotal man, or a man whose special release is recommended. He is merely entitled to priority of release over the men in the same group to which he belongs who are not so registered. The effect of Army Order55 is that a "slip" man is not demobilised unless he is eligible for demobilisation under the terms of the Army Order. A slip man need not have been applied for by a pre-war employer, but any employer who has employed him at any time or who has never employed him at all may agree to employ him. Therein he differs from a "contract" man.

(b) "Contract" Men.

Early in December, 1918, it was decided that employers who wished to re-employ officers or men who had been in their service on or before 4th August, 1914, could make out an offer of employment, in accordance with the prescribed form, and, after having had the offer approved by a local advisory committee attached to the Employment Exchange, send it to the officer or man whom they wished to re-employ. If the officer or man wished to accept the offer of re-employment, he handed theoffer to his commanding officer, and he was registered for demobilisation as a "contract" man, and is treated on the same footing as a "slip" man.

(c). Neither "slip" nor "contract" men can be demobilised unless they are eligible under the terms of the Army Order.