§ 30. Mr. Martinasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider appointing welfare officers for every large town for specified areas of London to whom soldiers on leave, their relatives, local authorities and others may have recourse in difficult cases of a compassionate nature, which often arise with regard to soldiers themselves or in their domestic circle?
§ Mr. LawThere are already some 1,500 welfare officers in the country, and all localities are covered. It is a recognised part of their functions to give advice on domestic difficulties and legal problems of the troops. Where the officers themselves have not the necessary qualifications to deal with particular questions, they obtain the assistance of the local branch of the citizen's advice bureau. Many thousands 1183 of cases have been dealt with. In the London area, there is a special whole-time welfare officer whose sole duty is to-deal with questions of this nature, and he has the assistance of local experts in various parts of the area.
§ Mr. MartinWould the hon. Gentleman consider appointing additional assistant welfare officers for the London area, and is he aware that the one welfare officer seems to have more than he can conveniently deal with?