§ Mr. Woodasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will investigate the hours worked by non-commissioned officers and men of 50 years of age and over who originally enlisted as clerks to supplement the regular personnel of the R.A.P.C.; whether he is aware that such men are required to do night picket duty immediately following on their clerical work, with no breaks save for meals; and whether consideration can be shown to men of this age by limiting them to the normal clerical duties for which they were engaged.
§ Sir J. GriggMy hon. Friend is, I think, referring to the Supplementary Reservists of the Royal Army Pay Corps who were re-engaged if they were not more than 5o years old. On mobilisation they became1064W in all respects soldiers of the Regular Forces. As such their duties are not limited to clerical work and they normally take part in the military training, picquet duties for internal security and fire watching which are performed by the members of the Corps. The men referred to by my hon. Friend are in the main fit men of a higher medical category than many soldiers now serving in Pay Offices. But if an individual is medically unfit to perform the above duties the head of the office concerned may excuse him on the advice of the medical officer.