§ 87. Sir William Darlingasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that recruits for the R.A.F., who go to the reception camp at Padgate, are not allowed to receive any communications from 10 to 14 days, the reason given being that as they have no number they have no official address; and, as their in ability to receive communications from their families is causing unnecessary anxieties, will he remedy this.
§ Mr. StracheyRecruits receive an official number as soon as they arrive at Padgate. They stay there only for a few days, never more than six, and there is no question of them not being allowed to receive mail, but the recruits are advised to ask their relatives to postpone writing to them until they go to a more permanent address, because in this way there is likely to be less delay than if letters have to be forwarded from Padgate.
§ Sir W. DarlingDoes the Minister appreciate that this regulation means that these young boys do not receive any communications from home, because their people have not their addresses?
§ Mr. StracheyThis request —it is not a regulation —was put into force for recruits because it was found that there was so much misdirection and delay in their receiving mail if they attempted to have it sent to Padgate.