§ 47. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister without Portfolio why the tour of duty in the R.A.F. in India is two and a half years, whereas in the Army it is three years; the tour of duty for the R.A.F. in Gibraltar 18 months, whereas in the Army it is three years three months; the tour of duty for British air forces of occupation, Germany, two years, whereas for British troops Austria and B.A.O.R. it is three years nine months; and whether he proposes to bring the tours of overseas duty for the R.A.F. and Army more into line.
§ The Minister without Portfolio (Mr. A. V. Alexander)Overseas tours in the Services must differ with their varying circumstances, in particular with the different proportions of men in the United Kingdom and abroad which are not, and cannot be, the same. But because of the longer tours in the Army, the War Office have introduced leave to this country during the overseas tour from areas further afield than North-West Europe.