§ 76. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private J. Davie, No. 43976, 3rd Battalion Royal Scots, who enlisted 10th November, 1916, was wounded in France and sent home, and was seven months without 2010 speech, and is still in the same condition when excited, has been retained in the Service; if he is aware that he has been sent from Edinburgh to Hants, to be included in a draft for Russia; and whether this man can be demobilised?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)Inquiries are being made into this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible. No one but volunteers are going to Russia.
§ 84. Sir H. NIELDasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that application has been made to the War Office for the release, on compassionate grounds, of Private L. E. Sutton, M/320530, 906th Company, Mechanical Transport, Royal Army Service Corps, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, and that such application has been refused as not coming within Army Council Instruction 287, of 1919; whether he is aware that this man's mother is a widow, and that he is her only son and sole support; that she is nearly blind, and that upon the decease of her husband she applied for an increase of her Government allowance, which is only 10s. per week, and that her application was refused; and if he will, therefore, take steps to amend the Army Council Instruction referred to, or the separation; allowance regulations, so as to make provision for such cases?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLFrom the particulars given, this case does not appear to fall within any of the categories prescribed in the instructions recently issued, governing releases on compassionate grounds. I regret, therefore, that his release cannot be sanctioned. In the time available, it has not been possible to inquire as to the separation allowance, but I will write to my hon. and learned Friend as soon as possible.
§ Sir H. NIELDDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the fact that the man, having gone into the Army at a time when he was only contributing 10s. a week to the household, that that is the allowance to his mother; that the father has since died, and that the poor mother is only getting 10s., yet this man cannot be demobilised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am sure that the publicity given to the case will ensure its careful examination in the light of the rules.
§ Mr. A. SHORTIs the right hon. Gentleman going to amend the Regulations in accordance with his speech only a few days ago?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question was "whether an extension of the principle on compassionate grounds for other than purely family reasons could be permitted." That was the extent of my undertaking. There are obviously great difficulties in it. It might easily become a matter of favouritism.
§ Mr. G. THORNEWhen does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be able to make a statement?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is many weeks ago since he first made that announcement?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWell, Sir, it may be so. But in the interval the scale of compassionate allowances has been greatly increased, and during the whole of the time men have been released from the Army at the rate of very nearly 10,000 a day.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the result of these concessions is that it is more difficult than ever to get men out of the Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere are fewer men than ever before to get out!
§ Captain O'GRADYWill the right hon. Gentleman make an inquiry as to the number of compassionate cases turned down by the War Office—by himself!—in the last two months?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt would be more profitable to take the number of cases which have been accepted.