§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether an order is in force that men evacuated from the East suffering from malaria are not to be sent again to the East; and, if so, why Sapper Rupert Cook, No. 288439, Royal Engineers (Signals), who was evacuated from East Africa some three months back, has been put on draft for Egypt; (2) if he is aware that Sapper Rupert Cook, No. 288439, Royal Engineers (Signals), C Depot, M Company, Bedford, was in hospital in German East Africa suffering from malaria from the 30th October, 1918, to the 4th February, 1919, and was therefore due for demobilisation under the rule then applicable to men who had been in hospital for twenty-eight consecutive days between the date of the Armistice and the 1st February, 1919; that Cook was too ill to be discharged from hospital before the 1st February, and was telegraphed for by the War Office to be returned to England for discharge, but had left East Africa for England before the telegram was received; that Cook was at that time also eligible for demobilisation on occupational grounds, his group being Occupation No. 35, but that before reaching home this scheme of demobilisation had been abolished; and, in view of these circumstances and of the fact that Cook was in the employment of the Post Office and that his discharge had been applied for by the Secretary to the General Post Office, if he will give instructions that Cook be discharged from the Army instead of being sent on draft to Egypt?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSapper Cook is not eligible for demobilisation under existing Army Orders. The question of replacing360W him in a draft for the East by a man who has less claim to remain at home will be considered. The Order referred to in the-first question is not now in force.