HC Deb 06 March 1945 vol 408 cc1801-2
19. Licut.-Colonel Wickham

asked the Secretary of State for War by what means next-of-kin can send urgent communications to officers and men of the B.L.A.

Sir J. Grigg

Next-of-kin may communicate about urgent private affairs by telegrams which are sent by Army channels used for operational traffic. In this connection, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Darwen (Captain Prescott) on 13th February.

Lieut.-Colonel Wickham

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, at present, anyone wishing to send an urgent communication to an officer or man of the B.L.A. must first apply in writing, either to the War Office or to the record office concerned?

Sir J. Grigg

As these telegrams have to go by operational channels, some means of limiting the number of really urgent cases must be found. In any case the postal service, which I believe all goes by air to the B.L.A., is now so quick that there is no real advantage in sending these urgent telegrams at all.