§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether an arrangement has been made by which a certain number of chartered accountants possessing special qualifications and assured of em- 583W ployment shall be immediately demobilised, the list of those selected for such demobilisation to be settled through the Institute of Chartered Accountants; and whether, in the case of a man recommended for release under such arrangement whose contract letter has been forwarded to the Ministry of Labour, the adjutant of the unit in which he is serving is competent to refuse to forward the application for release and to decide that the man shall be retained in the Army during demobilisation?
Captain GUESTYes, Sir. An arrangement was made between the Ministry of Labour and the Institute of Chartered Accountants under which a certain number of chartered accountants have been registered by the War Office before the 1st February, 1919, as pivotal men, and are being given special priority in demobilisation. The adjutant of a unit is not competent to refuse to forward an application for release if the soldier concerned is eligible for demobilisation under the recent Army Orders making provision for the composition of the armies of occupation.