§ 44. Mr. O'GRADYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his 836 attention has been drawn to the fact that men of the Army Service Corps who had been twenty months at the Western front of war, and who subsequently were attached to the Indian Expeditionary Force, were refused a short leave to visit their homes in this country on the ground that they were only lent to the Indian Expeditionary Force and in those circumstances no leave could be given; and whether, having regard to the fact that such men cannot in the nature of things get home until the end of the War, instructions will be given in such cases that men shall be allowed leave?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir, these matters have not been brought to my attention. The granting of leave, whether to men of the Army Service Corps or of any other arm, is entirely within the discretion of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, and the War Office does not interfere with the exercise of his discretion. It is quite possible for those concerned to represent any particular circumstances in their case and I am sure that due weight would be given to any such representations.