HC Deb 23 May 1944 vol 400 cc553-5
17 General Sir George Jeffreys

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) why neither shoes nor shirts are provided for soldiers discharged from hospital as unfit for further service, so that men have to start civilian life with Army boots and khaki shirts; and whether he will consider making an improvement in the scale of clothing issued to men on discharge;

(2) why a soldier discharged as medically unfit for further service between 1st March and 1st October receives no overcoat nor cash allowance in lieu, despite the certainty that he will need an overcoat within six months at the most from the date of his discharge; and whether he will see in future greatcoats are invariably issued to men on discharge;

(3) whether he is aware that the alternative cash allowance for clothing, made to a soldier on discharge, of £4 19s. 9d. in winter and £2 13s. in slimmer has no relation whatever to present prices of clothing; and whether he will investigate this matter with a view to more adequate allowances being made in the future.

20. Viscount Suirdale

asked the Secretary of State for War what clothing is issued to other ranks on their discharge from the Army, and, in the event of cash being paid to a discharged man in lieu of clothing, what amount is paid, and whether this amount is adequate to obtain clothing equivalent to that issued in kind.

Sir J. Grigg

I would refer to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant) on 9th November. A man discharged from the Army is given the clothing for his immediate needs. Between 31st March and 31st October this does not include a greatcoat. The cash allowance, which in summer is £2 15s. 9d., represents the cost to the Army of the Army issue and is not intended to represent the retail cost of the clothing. But, as I said to my hon. and gallant Friend on 9th May, the present arrangements will be changed as soon as supplies of the clothing which will be issued on demobilisation become available.

Sir G. Jeffreys

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it pays the country to treat these men well, and that it does not conduce to a good frame of mind to send them away in this manner?

Sir Irving Albery

Is my right hon. Friend aware that men in a bad state of health have been discharged from the Army in the cold months without greatcoats? Is any difference made between the clothing allowance to professional soldiers and those who are returning to civil life?

Sir J. Grigg

I do not think so, but perhaps my hon. Friend will put the second question down. As regards the first, if there are cases where the rules as I have described them have not been carried out, I should be glad to investigate them, but in any case, whatever anomalies there are, I hope they will all be removed by August.

Mr. Evelyn Walkden

What is holding up the excellent scheme which was announced some three months ago. Are the Ministry of Supply doing all they can to make possible the issue of the wonderful rig-out that they offered to the soldiers?

Sir J. Grigg

Consistently with preparing for future operations which are now imminent, certainly.

Mr. Quintin Hogg

In regard to overcoats, will my right hon. Friend consider adopting the excellent maxim of not casting a clout till May is out?