§ Mr. Chorltonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the alleged wastage of man-power at Mile End camp, Oswestry, where senior warrant officers are doing fatigue duties?
§ Sir J. GriggThese allegations have been investigated. There is a number of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers at this camp who have become temporarily surplus to Army requirements owing to the reorganisation of various units. This is unfortunate but inevitable from time to time in an Army which adapts itself to the changing requirements of war. The men in question will be posted to newly formed units as soon as they can be formed. A detailed examination of their employment while at this camp shows that there is no foundation in the allegation that they are being used for fatigues. They are used to supplement the staff at the camp and to act as instructors with other units. Some of them built a 30-yard range and others helped for a time with farm work. This was useful work but admittedly not work on which non-commissioned officers should be employed, even, as in this case, as volunteers. Special arrangements are therefore being made for holding and training personnel of this kind until their new units have been formed.