§ 16. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make arrangements to permit of privilege leave to Army personnel serving in this country.
§ 18. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any statement as to the continued ban on leave for home based troops.
§ Sir J. GriggThis question is under constant review. I am most anxious that leave should be restarted as soon as operational conditions permit.
§ Mr. BellengerAre we to understand from that reply that my right hon. Friend hopes that privilege leave will be restarted very soon?
§ Sir J. GriggWell, I hope, fairly soon, anyway.
Captain DuncanWill the right hon. Gentleman give urgent consideration to the question of reopening agricultural leave, in view of the approaching harvest?
§ Sir J. GriggI will certainly look into the matter, but I must make it clear that, in the conditions of this year, there will be very much less chance or scope for releasing troops for agricultural work during the harvest than in previous years.
§ Sir Percy HarrisCould not the number of German and Italian prisoners available be used?
§ Sir J. GriggMost of them are already employed in agriculture.