§ 69. Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Secretary of State for War for what reasons compassionate posting has now been limited to cases of extreme distress or dangerous illness; and whether this new ruling affects the conditions of compassionate release.
§ Mr. BellengerNo new ruling on compassionate postings has been given and the only new ruling on compassionate release has been in the direction of relaxation. Compassionate postings are necessarily being much limited owing to the reduction in the number of units at home and the corresponding difficulty of finding a suitable unit to which the man could be posted. Generally speaking, compassionate release is found to provide a more satisfactory solution.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State had written to me to the effect that compassionate posting had been limited owing to the large number of cases which were coming forward claiming that privilege? Will he now quite definitely state that is not so?
§ Mr. BellengerObviously, I must consult with my right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend. The position is as I have stated it in my reply.