§ 15. Mr. Tinkerasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there is misunderstanding in the procedure of how to apply for release from the Army; and will he consider issuing a brief statement on the position to the serving men.
§ Sir J. GriggAs the reply is necessarily rather long. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Judging from the number of applications for release which are received by the War Office I should have thought the procedure was generally well known. Releases fall into two classes. The procedure covering industrial cases was fully explained in the course of the Debate on the Adjournment on 11th July. Most other cases fall under the heading of releases on compassionate grounds. The procedure is laid down in detail in a manual which is issued to every company commander and the man would in the normal course look to his company commander for information and advice on such matters. If it is a strong case the latter will forward it to the War Office for a decision with a full report on the circumstances. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is more than ever necessary to grant release only in cases where the compassionate grounds are exceptionally strong and I regret that I can hold out no hope for the present of any relaxation in the present practice.