§ Mr. HUME-WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether officers and men recently repatriated from Switzerland on account of their condition will be discharged from the Army if they so desire; and, if so, what kind of employment is open to them, and how it is proposed to utilise such services as they are capable of rendering?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONUnder the agreement with Germany repatriated prisoners of war may not be employed on any front of military operations or on the lines of communication or in occupied territory. Officers, if permanently unfit for further military service, are permitted to leave the Service. If they are fit for further service their services are utilised, either regimentally or otherwise. Any application to leave the Service from an officer not permanently unfit is considered on its merits. Other ranks are medically examined, and if found permanently unfit are discharged. The remainder are given furlough as soon as they are fit for it. At the expiration of the furlough they are sent to a reserve battalion. If they become fit for general service they are not included in numbers available for overseas.