§ Mr. COURTHOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps are taken to provide men retiring from the Railway Battalion, Royal Engineers, with employment upon the British railways; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of devising a scheme by which the services of such men shall be available to the nation on emergency?
§ Mr. HALDANE:The hon. Member is presumably referring to the three Royal Engineer Railway Companies stationed at Longmoor. Every effort is made there to give these men and men of other units of 1140W the Army such instruction in plate-laying, railway telegraphy, and signalling as will enable them to find employment when they leave the colours, and the majority of the men who have passed the tests have found employment. A scheme is under consideration by which the services of men experienced in railway working shall be available to the nation on emergency.