Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will have inquiries made into the case of Lance-Corporal G. H Kemp, No. 420555, Royal Army Service Corps, 7lst Railhead Supply Detachment, Advanced Supply Depot, A.P.O. S 115, Flanders, who is over forty-one years of age and who is still being retained as a clerk, in spite of the fact that urgent and repeated applications have been made for his release by his employers, and that his duties during the past two months have averaged one hour's work per day?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLLance-Corporal Kemp is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the856W Service permit. With regard to the last part of the question, senior officers have been appointed to inspect registers of units with a view to ensuring that no officers or men who are eligible for demobilisation are being retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Secretary of State for War whether Sapper A. B. Lawrence, No. 211006, of L Battalion Signals, Royal Engineers, at present stationed at Marseilles, is forty-two years of age and has no immediate prospect of release; and whether he will cause special inquiries to be made by the officers appointed to examine into the state of the various units?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSapper Lawrence is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age is as stated by my right hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service, and his terms of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. With regard to the last part of the question, if the officers appointed to examine the registers of units are satisfied that the reason for the retention of any particular officer or men is not sufficient, the officer or men in question will be at once demobilised.
§ Captain MOREINGasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the case of Private Gilbert Davis, No. 69110, 3rd Battalion., Northumberland Fusiliers; if the demobilisation of this man was recommended by the Ministry of Labour prior to 1st February, 1919; and whether, in view of the fact that this man would have been included in a draft for demobilisation if he had not fallen ill and been admitted to hospital the previous day, he will order this man to-be demobilised forthwith?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Davies is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If he is eligible for demobilisation under current instructions he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Sir HERBERT NIELDasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private W. L. Grounsell, M/303399, Royal Army Service Corps, 31st Divisional 857W Motor Transport, British Expeditionary Force, France, was granted leave with a view of applying for demobilisation on compassionate grounds; that he returned to France on the 19th April, and on the 26th April a War Office telegram was sent him extending his leave until the 18th instant; and whether, as Private Grounsell's wife has to undergo an operation and there is no one to take charge of the home and child, he will have the case inquired into with a view to this man's early release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. and learned Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether George Laidler, No. 941, 2nd Northern Company, Non-combatant Corps, is eligible for demobilisation, seeing that he is thirty-nine years of age; and why his commanding officer has been unable to give any reason for the long-continued delay in his release from the Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Laidler is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age is as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend he will, no doubt, be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private F. E. Chandler, No. 655991, 240 P.O.W. Escourt, A.P.O. Section, British Expeditionary Force, is one of seven sons of Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, of Hounslow; whether the whole seven have served in the Army, one has been killed, and of the remaining six not one has yet been demobilised; whether this particular son has been sent back to France after having trench feet and that he is only graded B 2; whether he has received an appeal for his release on compassionate grounds; and whether, having regard to the services of the family, this can be granted?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can release at once Private E. W. Chapman, No. 020590, 109th Company, Army Ordnance 858W Corps, British Expeditionary Force, France, seeing that he is over thirty-seven years of age and was applied for on 24th January, 1919; and, seeing that he is eligible and that a whole business is dependent upon him as a manager, whether he will accelerate his release?
§ Mr. FORSTERPrivate Chapman is not registered by the War Office either us pivotal or for special release. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service, and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.