§ 63. Mr. BYRNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say who is responsible for the granting of leave to soldiers; if he is aware that soldiers in Irish regiments are not receiving the same treatment as soldiers in English and Welsh regiments; if he is aware that soldiers in these regiments have received two and three leaves to one granted to those in Irish regiments; if he is aware that many Irish soldiers have not received a leave since the outbreak of war; and if he will take steps to see that Irish soldiers with good conduct shall receive a leave at or before Christmas this year?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs I have already informed my hon. Friend on previous occasions, there is no truth in the suggestion that Irish soldiers are treated less favourably in the matter of leave than their comrades from other parts of the United Kingdom. As regards the arrangements for the granting of leave generally. I would refer him to the several replies which I have given recently to questions on the subject.
§ General McCALMONTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he drew the attention of the hon. Member who put this question down to the fact that false statements of this kind are calculated to cause great discontent in the Service, and did he ask him to withdraw it?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe hon. Member put this question down several times. It is not my duty to point this out to him.