§ Mr. V. KENNEDYasked how many men have been dealt with in Ireland under Army Council Instruction No. 817, of the 19th May, 1917, for the years 1914, 1915, 1916, and to date?
§ Sir A. GEDDESWe have no information on this point. The Instruction relates purely to procedure in the cases of absentees who have proceeded to Ireland, and action is taken in appropriate cases by recruiting authorities in the various localities. To secure the figures asked for would involve a considerable expenditure of time and labour and therefore of money without, I think, compensating advantages. The hon. Member may rest assured that the question will not be lost sight of.