§ 32. Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will see that an exception to the ban on Christmas travelling should be made on behalf of recently repatriated prisoners of war and that leave should be given these men in all cases to enable them to spend Christmas with their relatives?
§ 38. Flight-Lieutenant Challenasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider granting Christmas leave to prisoners of war who have recently been repatriated and who have been away from their homes for many years?
§ Sir J. GriggI have also received representations on this matter from my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall (Sir G. Schuster). It has been decided to make arrangements on these lines for repatriated prisoners.
§ Sir Frank SandersonWill travel warrants be issued to these men so that they can spend Christmas Day at home, and if these are not so provided will he see that they are?
§ Sir J. GriggI would always assume that if leave were given in these circumstances it was on the basis of free travel.
§ Mr. MathersIs an exception to the general rule also being made within Scotland itself because of the different holiday position there?
§ Sir J. GriggI was not aware that in this matter Scotland was separatist, but I assumed that my answer was universal in its application.
§ Mr. Neil MacleanIs it not the case that the New Year is the time for the holiday in Scotland?
§ Sir J. GriggI now see that Scotland is separatist—
§ Mr. MacleanIt is not part of England yet.
§ Sir J. Grigg—and I did not grasp the significance of the difference here, but I will look into that matter.
§ Mr. MathersThe right hon. Gentleman misunderstands me. When the matter was first raised it was suggested that there was no need for Christmas restrictions in Scotland. The matter belongs more to the right hon. Gentleman's Department than to the Ministry of War Transport.