Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Army rations served out to the Labour Companies of the Army Service Corps are insufficient for the work entailed by the duties; whether he is aware that on -every other morning the breakfast consists of two thick slices of bread and butter and -on alternate mornings of about two ounces of fat bacon, so that in order to maintain their strength and efficiency, and to enable them to do their work, the men have 1o supplement their food out of their pay, which is a hardship in the case of married men with families; whether he is aware that the steamer "Ortolan," of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, occupied five weeks in a voyage from Ireland, where she loaded potatoes, to Le Havre, Rouen, and Dieppe; that in consequence her cargo of 500 tons was in such a bad state, owing to the heat of the hold, that 50 per cent, of the potatoes were ruined; that after they were discharged on to the wharf at Dieppe they were covered with a tarpaulin, which made their condition worse; and that finally, after being resacked and subsequently picked over and trucked to the front, only about 80 tons were in any way fit for human food; and whether he will cause inquiry into this waste?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe labour companies are rationed on the same field service scale as the troops generally in France, and I am not aware that their rations are insufficient as suggested. The steamer "Ortolan" arrived in Dublin on 31st May, sailed for Cherbourg on 2nd June, arrived at Dieppe on 9th June, and was back in Dublin on 21st June. I have no information as to the other matter referred to.
Mr. CHANCELLORasked why men of the Labour Companies of the Army Service Corps, enlisted as skilled labourers and belonging to the original Expeditionary Force, have been, notwithstanding two years' service and good conduct, overlooked in promotion, while men more recently enlisted and only of a few months' 2300W service have been given non-commissioned rank; and why the £5 bonus promised on recruiting posters and elsewhere has been paid in a few cases but not many?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe last complete Labour Company was sent to France on 8th February, 1916, and since that date only drafts have, been sent. The original companies were enlisted with gangers, who were at once given acting non-commissioned rank. Subsequent promotion in the companies after their original formation is in the hands of the authorities overseas from whom the recommendations come. The £5 bounty was issuable only to men enlisted under Army Order 283 of 1914. Enlistments under this Order ceased from 15th August, 1914, except for 1,500 labourers, who were obtained by 17th August, 1914, and since that date no further labourers have been enlisted under these terms.