§ Sir SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council can now issue definite and decisive orders to all general officers commanding instructing them, not merely authorising them, to release mechanical transport non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Army Service Corps who enlisted before 1916, and for whose employment in civil life the Demobilisation and Resettlement Department of the Ministry of Labour have, after very searching local inquiries, expressed their entire satisfaction, and have intimated their satisfaction accordingly to the various responsible commanders of the British Army?
Captain GUESTI cannot entertain my hon. Friend's proposal to treat men of the Royal Army Service Corps preferentially to men in other branches of the Service. As has often been stated in this House, demobilisation is at all times subject to the exigencies of the Service, and men who are otherwise eligible for demobilisation are nevertheless liable to retention for the purpose of the military machinery of demobilisation until they can be relieved or their services dispensed with. Every effort is being made to replace men so retained as early as possible.