§ Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many soldiers are employed in the Expeditionary Force canteens; what is the pay of the men so employed; and whether the canteens are carried on by a contractor or directly by the War Office?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe Expeditionary Force canteens are War Office institutions under the control of the Army Council, and all profits are to be expended for the benefit of the Army. The honorary director is Mr. A. W. Prince, of Messrs. R. Dickeson and Company, Limited, and the honorary general manager and secretary is Mr. F. Benson, of the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society. The Army1142W Council gladly recognise the valuable services voluntarily rendered by these gentlemen, and by the organisation of the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society, Ltd. For canteens in the Mediterrancan area the staff are temporarily enlisted for the purposes of the Expeditionary Force canteens. Soldiers detailed for light duty may also occasionally be employed under the direction of the military authorities, but it is not possible to state the numbers. The staff in France are not enlisted, but are civilians in uniform.