§ Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the R.E.s are dependent upon civilian contractors for work involved on derequisitioned property; and if he will arrange for skilled tradesmen in the R.E.s to do the work themselves and so hasten general derequisitioning.
§ Mr. LawsonRoyal Engineer skilled labour is organised in units which arc-fully employed on larger and more concentrated works. It is generally more practical and economical, particularly in areas where civilian labour is readily available, to employ civilian contractors on numerous and scattered small services of the type in question. The work of Royal Engineer units does, however, assist indirectly in the process of derequisitioning in so far as they are employed on the provision of accommodation to take the place of requisitioned property.