§ 15. Mr. CLOUGHasked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department is responsible for the Repatriation Records Office at Winchester; whether he is aware that the inability to organise the handling of the thousands of cases is causing a large number of men to spend months in idleness and penury through failure of arrangements to provide shipping accommodation to take them back to posts awaiting them; and whether he will say what action he will take in the matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe establishment of the Repatriation Record Office, Winchester, has been increased. Officers and men are given the opportunity of electing for an immediate passage, in which case they continue to draw pay until the 28th day after the expiration of the 2699 standardised voyage period. If men are spending months of idleness as stated by my hon. Friend, they must have elected a deferred passage. In that case they would have been informed before they so elected that a passage might not be available for some time subsequent to the date on which they wish to sail. They would therefore have to be in a position to maintain themselves and their dependants whilst awaiting a passage, and this is a matter that they must have carefully considered before deciding not to take an immediate passage, as it is very carefully impressed upon them before they make their decision. The Repatriation Office, Winchester, are not responsible for providing shipping accommodation, but are dependent upon that which is put at their disposal from time to time by the Ministry of Shipping.