§ Mr. SWANasked the Secretary of State for War the number of desertions during the last six months from the Army now occupying Ireland, and the number for the corresponding six months of last year?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have endeavoured to obtain statistics from Ireland which would enable a comparison to be made of the number of deserters from the Army in Ireland during the periods mentioned. Owing to moves of units and to the fact that some of the battalions have been broken up consequent on demobilisation, complete figures for the period of 1919 are not readily available, and I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to give figures which are in any degree comparable. The proportion of desertions at the present time approximates to that for the Army as a whole.