§ 16. Mr. HOLTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that regiments are stationed in camps distant from the district in which they were raised, for instance, the Liverpool Regiment at Pembroke, and that consequently the soldiers have difficulty and expense in seeing their families; and whether he will arrange that regiments should be stationed within moderate railway journey of the district to which they belong?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe location of units must of necessity be governed by military requirements. I would remind my hon. Friend that special concessions to troops proceeding on leave are granted by the issue of free railway warrants.
§ Mr. ASHLEYSubject to military exigencies, will the, hon. Gentleman endeavour to station troops within reasonable distance of the district in which they are raised, so as to enable them to get home? In the case in question the journey is one of ten hours.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the War Office not see its way to change this system, in view of the difficulties of railway travelling?
§ Mr. HOLTWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, even if he gives free railway carriage to these troops, they do block the railways?
Mr. T. WILSONIs he aware that the soldiers themselves are of opinion that they are deliberately sent to hospitals far away from their homes?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI can assure my hon. Friends that all these considerations are kept in mind, but we do find it impossible to place men near their homes in certain cases.