§ Mr. BRIANTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of lads who enlisted in Army bands for a period of nine years are being discharged when only two or three years have been served, that in many cases they were trained for Army bands in Poor Law and other similar institutions owing to their having no parents or other relatives who could provide a home for them, and that they are now being discharged without provision of any home to receive them; and on what ground the War Office is now failing to fulfil its contract to these soldiers?
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSThe band boys in question, who belonged to units which have been disbanded on reduction of the strength of the Army, have in all Cases been given the option of transfer to other units, and those of them who declined that option have received compensation under Army Order 180 of 1922. In the circumstances, I cannot admit that the War Office has failed to fulfil any of its obligations to these boys.