§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether there are still a number of temporary officers who did not see active service during the War who have not yet been demobilised; whether he is aware that there is a feeling among ex-service officers that a preference of military employment should be given to those who saw active service in the War; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take any action in this direction?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI regret that it is not possible to give a specific answer to the first part of the Noble Lord's question without examining the record of each non-Regular officer still serving. It is possible that there are a few temporary officers not yet demobilised who did not see active service, but they are serving in one of the technical or administrative arms, and, owing to the special nature of their work, cannot be replaced at present. As regards the second and third parts of the question, records of the War service of temporary officers are preserved and are carefully considered whenever opportunity occurs for further employing such offices or for considering them for permanent commissions, and the action suggested by the Noble Lord is that adopted in all cases except in certain temporary technical appointments where it would not be in the interests of the Service to replace the present temporary holders.