§ Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the Secretary of State for War whether any special arrangements have been made, or are under consideration, for the demobilisation of proprietors of one-man businesses?
Captain GUESTThe recent Army Orders dealing with the composition of the Armies of Occupation provide that officers, W.O.s, N.C.Os. and men for whom recommendations for special release have been received by the War Office from the Ministry of Labour before the 1st February, 1919, will be demobilised as the exigencies of the Service permit. Amongst these so recommended are included a very large number of proprietors of one-man businesses. Apart from this, as has already been stated in this House, the fact that a man is the proprietor of a one-man business is not of itself sufficient to render him eligible for demobilisation, unless he is otherwise eligible under the Army Orders, but arrangements have been made by which the Ministry of Labour will forward release slips in respect of proprietors of one-man businesses. This will secure for those not liable to be retained for the Armies of Occupation a certain priority of release. Under these arrangements a large number of proprietors of one-man businesses have already been demobilised.