§ 1. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether it will now he possible to give Indian soldiers who have served for three years in East Africa leave to return to their homes in India?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)It is hoped that under present military arrangements effect will be given to the suggestion made by the hon. and gallant Member.
§ 33. Mr. BYRNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware or the growing dissatisfaction amongst the families of Irish soldiers caused by the failure of the War Office to grant leave according to service in the field; if he is aware that hundreds of cases have been brought to the notice of the Member for 954 the Harbour Division where Irish soldiers have been at the front since the outbreak of the War without one day's leave; and if he will see that the cause for dissatisfaction is removed?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I am not aware that Irish soldiers are treated differently from their comrades from other parts of the United Kingdom. As I have already explained, all leave that is possible is being given, but facilities are, unfortunately, limited in the more distant theatres of war.
Brigadier-General M`CALMONTIs the hon. Gentleman in a position to deny the statement made in the question to the effect that there are hundreds of cases of Irish soldiers who have been at the front since the beginning of the War without leave? Is that statement true?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy information is that it is not.