HC Deb 19 December 1944 vol 406 cc1593-4
13. Mr. Martin

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the percentage of United Kingdom leave places allotted per regiment or battalion to our troops in the C.M.F. or Near East; and over how long a period of time such allotment will be operative.

Sir J. Grigg

In his statement on 17th November the Prime Minister said that about 6,000 men a month would come home under this leave scheme. To give the detailed make-up of this figure would enable the enemy to make useful deductions about the strength of our forces overseas. It is left to the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief concerned to make suitable arrangements for choosing the individual men. No term has been fixed for the operation of this scheme but as the Prime Minister pointed out it may have to be stopped or modified for operational reasons.

17. Mr. Tinker

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there is anxiety from those who have got leave for long service from the distant war fronts, such as Burma and India, regarding their future posting; and will he make a statement upon it.

Sir J. Grigg

I am not very clear what my hon. Friend has in mind. A man who comes to this country on leave, not on repatriation, returns to the theatre where he came from when his leave is over. But this does not interfere with his right to be repatriated to this country when his time comes. A man who is repatriated is kept in this country for at least three months and is then again liable for service overseas, but only in North-West Europe, not in the more distant theatres.

Mr. Tinker

What I meant by the Question is this: Those men who come on leave, say from Burma or India, are not anxious to go back there without a period somewhere else. I was wondering whether the War Office had made arrangements to send them to some other place.

Sir J. Grigg

If they are given leave they go back to their theatre. If they are repatriated, they are at home for some time and then usually go to another front. Leave means that one returns to the theatre from which one came.