§ 36. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have now been made for visits by relatives to dangerously-ill soldiers in C.M.F.
§ Mr. BellengerIt has now been decided that one relative may be sent to any place in Europe for the purpose of visiting a Service man who is dangerously ill. Transport costs and the cost of other necessary facilities, such as accommodation, will be met by the public.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterMay I ask the Minister whether that will be published immediately in Army Council Instructions?
§ Mr. BellengerI do not know whether it will be published in A.C.I., but, at any rate, we will see that it gets proper publicity.
§ Mr. MarplesWill the Minister consider extending the same facilities to the Far East?
§ Mr. BellengerNo, Sir. That would be out of the question, I am afraid.
§ Lieut.-Colonel KingsmillMay I ask the Minister how long an average delay there would be in these circumstances before they actually found themselves there?
§ Mr. BellengerPractically no delay, obviously, if the soldier is dangerously ill. It would be necessary, if we agree that a relative should go to see him, that the relative should go quickly, and we will do everything we can to see that that is done.