HC Deb 19 March 1940 vol 358 cc1787-8
17. Sir Irving Albery

asked the Secretary of State for War whether permission can be given for officers and other ranks serving at home to wear civilian clothes when on leave for periods of not less than a week?

Mr. Stanley

It is not considered desirable to relax the rule that all ranks serving at home should wear uniform on all occasions except for the purpose of athletic exercise.

Sir I. Albery

May I ask my right hon. Friend to consider the desirability of allowing this relaxation for officers and other ranks serving at home?

Mr. Stanley

I have considered it. I answered the same Question a month ago.

Sir Derrick Gunston

Is the Minister aware that many officers have not got two sets of uniforms, and if they are on leave they are unable to get their clothes refurbished?

Mr. Bellenger

May I ask whether it is the case that permission is given to officers and men on leave from the Expeditionary Force to wear civilian clothes, and is a distinction made between men serving at home and those serving in France?

Mr. Stanley

It is felt that soldiers in the Expeditionary Force, especially in circumstances which may arise in the future, have more need for a change of atmosphere than a man who simply goes on week-end leave.

Mr. Lees-Smith

Will the right hon. Gentleman once again look into this matter carefully, to make sure that this is not what I might call a wooden regulation, applying to one set of soldiers and not another? Will he, in particular, take this into account, that a man on leave for a week has to spend a certain amount of time on polishing his buttons and so on—

Hon. Members

Speech.

Mr. Stanley

I will take all those matters into consideration.