§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTasked the Secretary of State for War, whether married members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were informed that they were not eligible for the Palestine gendarmerie, but since that instruction was given married men have been accepted; and, if so, whether he will take steps to clear this matter up?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. The conditions of service in Palestine are not regarded as altogether favourable to married life in the British section of the Palestine gendarmerie, and the officers responsible for recruiting the force were in consequence instructed to give preference to non-married applicants; but there has been no absolute bar against married men, and, indeed, the estimates of the force make provision for a proportion of married personnel.