§ 7. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a student's test case in which Sir Ernest Wingate Saul referred to critical examinations; and whether it is possible for serving soldiers to be temporarily released to take the law final examination on the same principle as postponement of military service when called up under the 1939 Act, and not withstanding the fact that they joined up voluntarily before the outbreak of war?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI am aware of the case mentioned. So far as those already serving in the Army are concerned, leave may, if military considerations permit, be granted for the period of an examination not exceeding one month.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishWould it be possible to issue some formal statement on the general question of release from military service for various purposes, such as that indicated in the Question, namely, a law examination?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI do not know that it would be possible to do that. In general, these cases are treated as sympathetically as possible, but, obviously, military interests must be paramount.