Mr. RUTHERFORDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is prepared to take any steps to meet the grievances of some Liverpool men, a typical case of which is that of a man who enlisted at 65, St. Anne's Street, Liverpool, on the 2nd September, signed on for foreign service, has been sent to and is now at Blackpool, and has not yet fired a rifle; whether anything can be done to give this man and others similarly situated the necessary rifle training and the option of joining a battalion for active service; whether he is aware that the railway companies are charging full fare to many of these men between Blackpool and Liverpool when they get leave; whether, as there are a number of married men in the same position who only receive 1s. 9d. a week (5s. 3d. being allotment money), he will consider the possibility of arranging that they shall not be charged 6s. 9d. railway fare; will he say whether steps were 1341W taken to avoid many of these men being compelled to wear their own clothes and boots, in some cases for nine weeks, seeing that other corps in Liverpool received allowances for the same; why these men did not receive kit allowance, which is supposed to be at the rate of 2d. per day; whether he is aware that most of these men were kept ten weeks in Liverpool before being sent to Blackpool, during which period they had to sleep at home, there being no accommodation at the shed except for twenty men, and during that period they have had to pay for their own breakfasts every day and all meals on Sunday; whether the War Office has paid to the unmarried men only allowance for bed, breakfast, and Sunday meals; and, if so, will he explain why the married men are compelled to pay for these things themselves?
Mr. BAKERIf the hon. Member will give me particulars of the names and units referred to I will have inquiry made. I may, however, state generally, that rifles are issued to Territorial Force soldiers as soon as they are available. Arrangements have been made to enable soldiers proceeding on leave to get tickets at half-fares. Men who wear their own civilian clothing are entitled to 3d. a day up to a maximum of 7s. 6d., which is about to be increased to 15s. Kit allowance at the rate of 2d. a day is issuable from the 1st of September or date of enlistment, if later. Both married and unmarried men who are required to sleep at their own homes receive lodging allowance, and when they have to find some meals for themselves they receive either food in kind or an appropriate money allowance, or both.