§ 59. Captain Profumoasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will given an assurance that the fullest possible information is communicated to the relatives of wounded met as to the nature and seriousness of their injury and their condition; and that every facility be given to relatives to enable them to correspond with casualties in the quickest possible manner?
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Sandys)The amount of information which can be communicated to the relative of a wounded man is limited in the first instance by the facilities for communication. The first intimation that an officer or man is wounded comes by telegram direct from the theatre of operations. It will, therefore, be understood that only bare details can be telegraphed. Whilst the natural anxiety of relatives is fully appreciated, it is not possible, owing to the restricted means of communication, to add to the amount of detail which is now officially telegraphed. If, as the result of wounds, injuries, or sickness, an individual becomes seriously or dangerously ill, this information is telegraphed home and communicated to his relatives, together with particulars of his address. It is open to persons in this country to correspond with men serving overseas by telegram. In addition there is the air-graph service to the Middle East. Every effort is being made to increase the facilities for communication with all theatres of war.