HC Deb 19 February 1946 vol 419 cc956-7
49. Mr. Grimston

asked the Prime Minister if he will give instructions to the Service Departments to speed up consideration of applications for compassion ate release from Servicemen anxious to get back to work on smallholdings which are short of labour, or the work on which is otherwise handicapped by the age or illness of the occupier.

The Prime Minister

Applications from smallholders for compassionate release should only arise where the man was a smallholder before he was called up for service and if his holding is now derelict or being run by a wife or friend. These applications are few in number and are dealt with quickly by the Service Departments. Applications from men previously employed on smallholdings are not compassionate releases and would have to be dealt with through the Class B machinery.

Mr. Grimston

Is the Prime Minister aware that the cases I have in mind are those where a father has been a smallholder, has worked very hard during the war, is now infirm and partially incapacitated, and cannot carry on unless his son is allowed to come home and work on the smallholding? In view of the appeal that has gone out to the farming, community, does not the right hon. Gentleman think x that he could give a rather more sympathetic reply?

Mr. Martin Lindsay

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think these cases are dealt with quickly by the Service Departments?

The Prime Minister

That is my information—that they deal with them as quickly as possible. I understand the hon. Member was asking that special attention be given to these cases, but, of course, they fall to be considered with other cases of persons who succeed to businesses and so forth.

Colonel Thorton-Kemsley

Is it not a fact that instructions have been issued to war agricultural executive committees that the number of compassionate releases of this type must be drastically reduced in view of the larger number of block releases under Class B?

The Prime Minister

I have not heard of that. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put a Question down.

Mr. De la Bère

It is no good giving with one hand and taking away with the other.