HC Deb 30 September 1941 vol 374 cc435-6
5. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that considerable numbers of soldiers are not able to take advantage of the four leave periods per annum, which most of them are entitled to get, by reason of their inability to pay heavy cost of travelling, due to the long distance between their unit station and their home destinations; and, as this results in discrimination between such soldiers and those situated much nearer home, will he devise measures to eliminate such inequity?

8. Lieutenant Butcher

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the proposed new financial arrangements with the railway companies, he will now increase the number of free travelling warrants issued to men going on leave?

27. Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present state of his consideration of the question of adding to the number of free travel warrants granted to soldiers stationed far from home who cannot afford to pay their fares; and will be consider whether it is possible to station men nearer to their homes to mitigate this hardship?

Captain Margesson

I am at present engaged in a re-examination of this question.