HC Deb 23 November 1943 vol 393 c1417
14. Mr. Loverseed

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue instructions to ensure that soldiers proceeding on leave from ports of disembarkation from overseas, and who have accumulated credit balances in their pay accounts, shall be paid a substantial part of such balances before proceeding on leave?

Sir J. Grigg

Generally speaking, soldiers are not sent on leave from the port at which they disembark but from a unit or place of reception. In the few cases where they do go on leave from the port arrangements are being made to give them advances of pay. In some places these arrangements are, I understand, already in force.

Mr. Loverseed

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these soldiers have been in hospital for some months and have accumulated, as a result, large credits, in some cases £70 or £80, while they are paid only £7 for 14 days' leave, out of which they have to pay such charges as are necessary?

Sir J. Grigg

As I say, the amount of their credit is not available at the port, and so some rough and ready fixed figure must be adopted.