asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that soldiers, who in response to a request for volunteers in 1940, transferred from the Army to the enemy occupied territories police, are not permitted to count the time spent in such police towards service for demobilisation; and whether he will take action to ensure that the period of service so spent is taken into account for age and service release.

I have been asked to reply. These soldiers were transferred to Class W or W (T) Reserve under the usual conditions, when volunteering for civilian employment, and I regret that I can see no grounds for making a special exception to the normal rules of the Release Scheme in their favor.