Colonel THORNEasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a good number of soldiers of the Bedfordshire Transport Battalion are employed by the Great Western Railway Company in Weymouth; if he is aware that hundreds of workpeople are out of employment in the locality that could be engaged upon the work that is being done by the soldiers; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI understand that transport workers' battalions are allotted to work by the Port and Transit Executive Committee of the Ministry of Shipping. There are less than 5,000 men in all in these battalions now, and it is proposed at the end of this month to recall to military duty all who are ineligible for demobilisation. The organisation will then be broken up.