§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Sergeant Meek C. F. Ford, No. 204691, is still being retained in the Air Force at No. 21 Kite Balloon Base, Lerwick, Shetland, although he joined the Royal Naval Air Service in May, 1915, and has been applied for through the Labour Exchange by Messrs. Bowditch and Ford, builders and contractors, of South Farnborough, Hants, who have urgent work waiting for him to do; and whether, in view of the urgency of the building problem at the present moment, he will give instructions for Sergeant Meek Ford to be immediately demobilised?
§ Major-General SEELYI am obtaining the necessary information from Lerwick, and will acquaint my Noble Friend with the decision reached.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Dr. D. Carmichael, Laurieston House, 2, Albert Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow, applied unsuccessfully for the release of 426W his assistant, Lieutenant Morris Hyman, M.B., Royal Air Force, Headquarters 233rd Squadron, Dover, although his appeal was backed up by the local war emergency committee; and whether, in view of the shortage of medical practitioners in Glasgow and the prevalence of influenza there, he will agree to have this decision reversed and the above-named officer released?
§ Major-General SEELYSo far as I can ascertain, no application for the release of Lieutenant Hyman has been received by the Air Ministry, the Ministry of National Service, or the Scottish Central Professional Committee. Medical officers are released from the Royal Air Force in a definite order of priority. Lieutenant Hyman, who is a newly-qualified medical man, aged twenty-six, joined for duty on 14th November, 1918, and I regret that I do not consider that the circumstances would warrant my granting any special priority in his case.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War why Private H. H. Smith, No. S368180, Army Printing and Stationery Department, Boulogne, is still being retained in the Army, although he is over thirty-seven years of age, and has been applied for by his employer as a pivotal man?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Smith is not registered at the War Office as pivotal, and I am informed that there is no trace at the Ministry of Labour of his having been certified as pivotal by that Department. If his age is as stated, he will, under the regulation now in force, be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private N. Morrison, No. 62182, 2/lst Royal North Devon Hussars, had his papers completed for demobilisation by 15th January, but that owing to no allotments being made for Scotland his dispersal has never taken place; and whether, as this man attested on 12th December, 1915, and is urgently required by his father in Glasgow in his business, he can now consent to release him without further delay?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Morrison is not registered by the War Office as pivotal or for special release. It would appear that the papers referred to were either the usual "contract" offer of employment or 427W such as to obtain his registration as a "slip" man. Neither "contract" nor "slip" men are entitled to demobilisation unless they are eligible under current instructions.
Colonel DUPREasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private A. G. Picton, No. 019045, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 18th Section, Didcot, whose case has been for some time under consideration, can now be released, seeing that this man was invalided home from Salonika suffering from dysentery and is classed B3?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs Private Picton is only thirty years of age and did not join the Colours until June, 1916, he is not eligible for demobilisation under the terms of Army Order 55.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private W. Kew, No. 0696, E Company, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Ruddan Camp, Buncrana, county Donegal, Ireland, is still being retained in. the Army, although he has been applied for some months ago as a pivotal man, and whether, in view of the fact that this man's services as an agricultural carter are urgently required to assist with the spring sowing, he will give orders for his immediate release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Kew is not registered by the War Office as pivotal, and I am informed by the Ministry of Labour that there is no trace of this man having been so certified by his Department. His demobilisation is dependent on whether or not he is eligible under current instructions.
Sir LEICESTER HARMSWORTHasked the Minister of Labour if there is any reason why a delay of two months should occur between the time when a man serving in the Navy at Malta claimed priority release as his own employer as far back as the 29th December and the time when his people were asked for the first time by the Appointments Department to certify his occupation; and if, when that was done immediately, he should still be retained in the Service?
§ Sir R. HORNEIn normal cases a delay of two months would be excessive, but without the facts I am unable to give a definite opinion upon the particular case which my hon. Friend has in mind. If he will furnish full details I shall be glad to make inquiry into the case.