§ 25. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War why troops serving in the Middle East are compelled to pay for use of Government transport when proceeding to places of entertainment and what charges are usually made.
Sir J. GriģģThe provision of transport to places of entertainment is normally an amenity towards the cost of which the soldier can be properly asked to contribute. The charges are moreover very modest. They are ¼d. a mile for each man, with a maximum of 6d. for each occasion. But in theatres of operations and in other neighbouring areas where conditions for the troops are similar these charges are usually waived and, as far as I am aware, these charges are in fact waived throughout the Middle East Command except in areas with reasonable amenities close at home, such as Cairo and Alexandria.