§ 74. Mr. Bowdenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that recruits on joining the shore establishment H.M.S. "Royal Arthur" are informed that they may write home, but they must not give their addresses for 14 days; that this causes hardship to relatives who may wish to write on matters of urgency; and why this instruction is necessary.
Mr. DugdaleIt has been the practice to give every recruit arriving in H.M.S. "Royal Arthur" a printed postcard to send to his relatives informing them of his safe arrival. During the first five days, while the recruit is going through the examination and kitting-up routine, he has no full address by which he can readily be found, and during this period ratings have been asked to inform their relatives that they should not write except on urgent matters, but that urgent letters could be sent care of the commanding officer; many such letters have, in fact, been received. After five days, the rating has been given a class number and division, and with this full address letters could reach him quickly.
As a result of my hon. Friend's Question, however, new arrangements are now in force, and men on joining are told that there is no restriction on incoming mail, but that letters addressed to them as new entries may be slightly delayed while the recipients are being traced.