HC Deb 31 July 1919 vol 118 cc2299-300W
Lieut.-Colonel A. HERBERT

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, as regards demobilisation, men who volunteered in 1914 and 1915 and were rejected as unfit, but were afterwards passed and conscripted, receive the same treatment as men who never volunteered at all; and whether he will consider the advisability of taking steps to deal with this state of affairs?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The Memorandum recently published contains information as to how we hope to demobilise men of all classes, in the way best calculated to mitigate hardship, and I regret that, under these circumstances, I cannot authorise any alteration in the proposed procedure.

Lieut.-Colonel HERBERT

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the need of greater production in this country, he will give an assurance that men whose places have been kept open for them by patriotic employers, or who have businesses of their own requiring their immediate attention, will shortly be demobilised?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The Memorandum recently published contains information as to how we hope to demobilise men of all classes, in the way best calculated to mitigate hardships, and I regret that, under these circumstances, I cannot authorise any alteration in the proposed procedure. With regard to the last part of the question, instructions wore recently issued making provision for the release of certain one-man business owners on compassionate grounds.