§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of dismissals of ex-service men and civilians employed as clerks at the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Records, Woolwich; whether he is aware that these ex-service men have all served overseas and a great number of the civilian clerks have been employed since 1914. being unfit for military service; that a number of soldiers who have done no military service outside the office are still retained; whether the female clerks recently discharged were granted gratuities ranging from £10 to £20 upon their discharge, if so, why this gratuity was not granted to the male clerks upon discharge; and whether he will have inquiries made into this matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that 41 civilian clerks were dismissed on the 20th March last, in consequence of the reduction of the staff in the record office mentioned. None of them were ex-service men, nor were any employed in the office in 1914. The only soldiers retained, who have performed no other military duty, are 52 men specially enlisted as infantry soldiers for duty as home-service clerks. These men signed a special agreement to continue serving, and will be retained until their agreements terminate in July next, As regards the female clerks, a number of them who signed on agreement which entailed certain liabilities were entitled under that agreement to a bounty on discharge; the male clerks were not required to enter into such agreement.