§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been called to the fact that about 120 men of the Army Pay Corps at Black-heath are being transferred to Labour Corps, with reduction of pay to that of their new unit and loss of rank in the case of non-commissioned officers, on the ground of incompetence; if he is aware that of the men being transferred on 2404W the ground of incompetence the great majority were clerks in civil life and a few were school teachers; if he is also aware that amongst the men involved there are two who have been promoted to the rank of corporal, presumably for the efficient performance of their duty as Army pay clerks; if he is further aware that in all cases the men who are being transferred are in low medical categories, such as B 2 and B 3, and unfitted, by reason of their age and previous employment in sedentary occupations in civil life, for hard manual labour; and if he will make inquiries with the object of satisfying himself that the charge of incompetence has, in fact, been substantiated against each individual man concerned and that the action taken is not due, as alleged, to a general policy of victimisation, and also that the non-commissioned officers who are being reduced to the ranks have been tried by court-martial if, as is understood to be the case, they are entitled to be so tried under Army Regulations?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiries are being made, and I will let the hon. Member know the result.