§ 22. Major Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in cases where a Royal Fleet reservist is eligible for enlistment in the Army or Royal Air Force and has passed the 1349 medical examination, he will authorise provisional discharge from the Royal Fleet Reserve in order that the Army and Air Force Regulations can be complied with and men not prevented from obtaining employment?
Mr. DAVIDSONFree discharge may, with the approval of the Admiralty, be granted to Royal Fleet Reservists to enable them to join the Army or Air Force. Approval is dependent in each case upon the Naval Reserve requirements at the time and upon the man's services being desired by the War Office or Air Ministry as the case may be Subject to these considerations, it is the practice to grant discharge, but in the nature of the case no general guarantee can be given.
§ Sir B. FALLEMy hon. Friend has missed the point. What is asked for is "provisional discharge," so that if not. accepted by the Army or the Air Force the man may return to the Royal Fleet Reserve. Will my hon. Friend give the matter his sympathetic consideration?