§ 78. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for War why, in view of the progress made with the Class A release scheme, carpenters and painters in the Army, whose group number is 35, have not yet been offered Class B release under the block release scheme.
§ Mr. LawsonCarpenters of groups up to 38 have been offered release under Class B. Men in Group 35 who were recorded as carpenters on joining the Army should therefore have been offered Class B release. Hitherto it has not been necessary to offer Class B release to painters in Group 35; a further demand has recently been received, but I cannot yet say what groups will have to be30W called upon to meet this demand. The group to which offers have to be made in any particular category depends on the numbers demanded by the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
§ 80. Major Digbyasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the end of January, men in release Group 27 were still in Batavia; and whether he will give an assurance that all men of this group from S.E.A.C. will be back in the United Kingdom in time to be released not later than the rest of their group.
§ Mr. LawsonTransportation is being provided to meet all requirements for the repatriation of men from India and S.E.A.C. to the United Kingdom. I have therefore no reason to believe that men of Group 27 who were in Batavia at the end of January will not be back in this country in time to be released within the period laid down for their group.
§ 91. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to allay the concern felt by men in the Army owing to the fact that as a result of the cutting down of the rate of demobilisation after 7th March by one-half, their service will be much longer than that of naval and R.A.F. personnel in violation of the age and length of service principle laid down for release.
§ Mr. LawsonI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lichfield (Major Poole) last Wednesday. There is no question of any violation of the age and service principle involved.
§ 96. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for War why the demobilisation of Group 27 will not be completed till 20th April.
§ Mr. LawsonI would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to the hon. and gallant Member for Uxbridge (Flight-Lieutenant Beswick) and the hon. Member for Drake (Mr. Medland) on 26th February. My hon. Friend may also like to refer to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lichfield (Major Poole) on Wednesday last.
§ 103. Mr. Kenyonasked the Secretary of State for War how many R.A.S.C. 31W officers of Release Groups 23, 24, 25 and 26 have been deferred compulsorily in M.E.F.; and how many released.
§ Mr. LawsonI regret that the information in the form asked for is not available in the War Office. I have therefore had a cable sent to the Middle East, and as soon as I have received a reply I will write to my hon. Friend.
§ 112. Captain Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for War how many men are there in His Majesty's Forces in age and service Group 40, and above, with four or more years' service at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LawsonI regret that accurate and up to date information is not available for any of the Services and could not be obtained without a considerable amount of research, which could only be carried out at the expense of other urgent work. In the case of the Army, however, it has been estimated that there are now some 32,000 men in Groups 40 and later who would have completed four years' service by December, 1945.
§ Mr. Willisasked the Secretary of State for War if it is necessary for a Class W (T) reservist to rejoin the Colours to be assessed for age and service group and final discharge.
§ Mr. LawsonYes, Sir. But this is not to say that all such men will necessarily have to rejoin the Colours before general demobilisation.