HC Deb 16 October 1945 vol 414 cc924-30
The Secretary of State for War (Mr. J. J. Lawson)

I desire, with the permission of the House, to make a statement explaining a modification which it has been found necessary to make in the programme for the release of officers.

The operation of the age and service principle in the release scheme results in a far higher proportion of officers than of other ranks becoming due for release in the early groups. Three in every four have had previous service in the ranks which counts in computing their total service for release. Seven out of every eight officers are over the age of 25. This was always foreseen, but it was expected that the resulting shortage of officers in the early period of the release scheme would be met in two ways:—

  1. (a) by inviting officers to defer their release voluntarily; and
  2. (b) by reducing officer establishments.
Both steps have been taken and have gone far to meet the difficulty caused by the uneven run-out of officers as contrasted with that of other ranks. But the shortage has not been wholly over- come and, during the coming three months, the proportion of officers to other ranks will fall below the efficiency level. Notwithstanding the fact that the ratio of officers to other ranks has been reduced to a bare minimum there will be a serious shortage of officers.

It was for these reasons that Field-Marshal Alexander and Field-Marshal Montgomery found it necessary to issue orders retarding the release of certain categories of officers in the forces under their command. The House will remember that the power to retain any individual officer or soldier on grounds of vital military necessity is expressly vested in Commanders-in-Chief by paragraph 320 of the Release Regulations. The shortages in these theatres were, however, of such dimensions as to persuade Commanders that the only practical method to adopt was the retention of classes rather than of individuals. These local arrangements, whilst avoiding unfairness as between individual officers within the theatres affected, were bound to produce inequality of treatment as between the various theatres—and particularly as between overseas theatres and the forces at home. After consultation with the Commanders-in-Chief, and with the approval of His Majesty's Government, the Army Council have decided that the release of certain groups of officers throughout the world must be deferred for a period. This deferment will not apply to medical, dental or nursing officers, nor to the other ranks of any arm or corps.

The first groups of officers to be affected will be group 21, in the case of military officers, and group 28 in the case of A.T.S. officers. These groups will, as already arranged, begin release on 12th November, but the completion of their release will not be effected until 12th February. It must follow that groups 22, 23 and 24 for military officers, and groups 29 to 34 for A.T.S. officers, cannot begin to be released until the middle of February at the earliest,by which time the continued and accelerated stream of releases of other ranks should have adjusted the balance. It is confidently hoped that these deferred groups, in the case of military and A.T.S. officers respectively, will be rapidly released as soon as the balance is restored, and that the provisional dates of release already announced for subsequent groups will be very little affected, if at all. This measure will not result in officers being held in this country doing nothing. Officers who are in these groups and are in the United Kingdom will be despatched to the B.A.O.R. The retention of groups earlier than those in group 21 in the British Army of the Rhine and elsewhere will be cancelled, although individual officers who have been retained under the vital operational necessity clause may still be retained. The present arrangements for the release of officers under Class B will not be altered.

I realise that this may cause special hardship in individual cases. There are already arrangements under which officers may apply for posting to the home establishment or for release on compassionate grounds. These arrangements will continue and special considerations arising out of the deferments I have announced will be given the fullest weight.

Nobody regrets more than I do that this temporary delay in the release of some officers has become absolutely necessary, but I am satisfied that the arrangements of which I have informed the House are best calculated to secure uniform and fair treatment, and that the officers who are affected by the decision, both men and women, will accept it in a good spirit. I may add that this delay will not affect the target figure of releases for officers and other ranks combined, up to the end of this year or up to the middle of next year. I need hardly say in conclusion that, if circumstances should permit any alleviation, I shall immediately avail myself of the opportunity.

Mr. Eden

While I am sure that all hon. Members wish to associate themselves with the regret which the right hon. Gentleman feels at having to make this statement about the service of these officers, I think it would be useful if he could make available either now, or in some other way that he thinks fit, some indication of the numbers concerned.

Mr. Lawson

I will do that with pleasure. I feel that in the circumstances the House has the right to all possible information I can give on this matter. I gather the House understands the difficult side of this for the officers; I ought to point out that the essence of the whole thing is that up to the present the men who have been held in various classes because of military necessity have been held indefinitely. They did not know what their position was. This operation, which spreads over a much longer time will give something like a fair deal to officers. It will spread out over all theatres, and in the long run will let the officers know for how long they are to be held, and ultimately it will get us back to the position where age and length of service will act properly.

Major Wyatt

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1939 and 1940 the Army was run on a much smaller proportion of officers than at present and that the deficiency was met by giving far more responsibility to N.C.O.'s and Warrant Officers, Class 3? What steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking now to improvise methods of finding people who can do junior officers' jobs?

Mr. Lawson

I am afraid I should want to see that question on the Order Paper. It involves quite a number of considerations with which I would not be prepared to deal at the moment.

Captain Sir Peter Macdonald

While I appreciate the necessity for the steps which the Army Council are taking in the circumstances, is not the need for these steps due a great deal to the fact that they have not yet announced the conditions of service of the post-war Army? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many officers whom I met on recent visits to Germany told me they were quite willing and anxious to remain in the Regular Army if only they could find out what the conditions of service are to be? Will the right hon. Gentleman expedite an announcement on that subject and in that way retain in the Service a great many officers who otherwise would be demobilised?

Mr. Lawson

I realise the need of a statement on post-war conditions for the Army, and I know that has affected certain individuals, but I ask hon. Members to note that the Army has had to supply officers for Civil Affairs, for Control Commission purposes, and for many other purposes, and this has robbed the Army of some of its ablest men.

Mr. Butcher

In view of the fact that the principle of age and length of service no longer operates equally between officers and men and between the three Services, will the right hon. Gentleman indicate to the Leader of the House the desirability of providing an early day for a full discussion of this matter?

Mr. Lawson

I have just drawn attention to the fact that under the working of the military necessity clause and the holding up of whole classes for some months now, that principle has not been working as far as officers were concerned. We hope by this arrangement to bring the whole thing on to an even keel. Whereas the officers were held indefinitely and did not know how long they were going to be in the Army, this arrangement will give officers a definite guarantee as to how long they are to be held.

Mr. Sunderland

Will the Minister authorise inquiries to establish the truth or otherwise of opinions so frequently ventilated by officers and other ranks that there are now far more officers in relation to other ranks than are needed for the purposes of the occupation Forces?

Mr. Lawson

The proportion of officers to other ranks is bigger now than it was before the war. As to holding an inquiry, I have just completed a visit, and I would not like to hold an inquiry on all the statements that were made by me.

Major Legge-Bourke

Is it proposed to return to B.A.O.R. those officers who have completed their full term of service abroad and who are now in this country?

Mr. Lawson

Yes, Sir, I said that in my statement.

Mr. Evelyn Walkden

Apart from the disappointment to men abroad, is my right hon. Friend aware that the housing shortage and the construction of houses will be affected by this decision, especially the inclusion of many thousands of young engineers who qualified and who will not be allowed to come back into industry as speedily as they expected?

Mr. Lawson

I think my hon. Friend has made a mistake as to what the statement means. It applies only to officers and not to the men. I also said that this arrangement would allow for more consideration to be given, particularly to the needs of industry, as well as compassionate needs.

Mr. Walkden

Is my right hon. Friend aware that men with science degrees were made into officers over two years, ago?

Mr. Lawson

They would have their cases investigated and examined.

Colonel Ropner

Is it still the case that officers who desire to continue to serve must volunteer for a further period of one year? If so, will not the right hon. Gentleman take advantage of the very large number of officers who would be ready to volunteer for continued service for six months or even for three months?

Mr. Lawson

We were hoping to get about 25,000 officers, and we got 15,000 to take on. I realise that the need is to speed up a statement on post-war conditions.

Major Beamish

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman agrees that an early statement of conditions is desirable and that this would go part of the way towards solving the problems he has mentioned, can he say how soon he will be in a position to make a statement?

Mr. Lawson

No, Sir, I cannot.

Mr. Driberg

In view of the fact that my right hon. Friend's statement was rather complex, will he consider asking the Leader of the House to provide an opportunity for a discussion on it when hon. Members have had time to study it? Or will he go into the matter a little further when he meets hon. Members in a Committee Room this afternoon?

Mr. Lawson

I would welcome an opportunity of making a statement on this matter, although I am the victim of conditions and the Business of the House like every other Minister. The meeting to which my hon. Friend alluded which I am addressing upstairs this afternoon is called for that purpose and I would like to deal with that specific subject. I do not object to a question or two at that meeting, if necessary.

Mr. Turton

Will the right hon. Gentleman include in the statement he is publishing details of the cuts effected in officers on headquarter establishments and also of the number of other ranks who are being commissioned to replace the shortage of officers.

Mr. Lawson

I would like to have an opportunity of considering that matter.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Will the Minister, in determining the revised dates of release, take into account the fact that many of these officers served in the Terri- torial Army for many months, and sometimes years, before the war and have been separated for long periods from their businesses and also from their homes?

Mr. Lawson

I expressed my very great regret at the statement I had to make particularly upon the ground of the long service of some of these men, but I again state that there will be an opportunity in particular cases for special consideration to be given. Now that this spread over is to take place, there will be a greater opportunity for compassionate consideration and things of that description than there was in the past.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

May I ask the Prime Minister whether any similar deferment is going to apply to officers in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force?