§ 66. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an application for release from the Army on compassionate grounds was made in July, 1928, for Private D. Martin, No. 1,041, Machine Gun Group, 1st Battalion Black Watch, Gangoru Camp, Dehra Dim, Northern Province, India; that all regulations have been complied with; and whether he can state what action he is taking in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)I assume that the application to which the hen. Member refers has been made direct to the authorities in India since no such request has, so far as I can ascertain, been received by the military authorities at home. The decision on applications of this kind rests with the Brigade Commander and I have no information what the decision has been in this case.
§ Mr. MACLEANSince it has taken such a long time to get any decision, can the right hon. Gentleman find out the cause of the delay, and what the decision really is?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt does not follow that there has been any delay. I expect the decision has been given in India.
§ Mr. MACLEANSeeing that the decision has been made since the request was sent from this country, surely, even as a 2622 matter of courtesy, some decision might be sent to them to let them know what has been arrived at.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIf the hon. Member will look at my answer, he will find that we have heard nothing of it in this country.