HC Deb 24 June 1947 vol 439 cc188-9
25. Mr. Bramall

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to ensure that a man desiring to be released from the Army in a part of the British Commonwealth other than the United Kingdom is not thereby avoiding his obligations to maintain his wife and family.

Mr. Bellenger

Under present rules a man may be released locally in any country overseas if he obtains the consent of the Government of the country in question and of the overseas command. As far as the requirements and obligations of overseas commands are concerned, although it is not a military responsibility to investigate the private or domestic affairs of applicants for local release, commands have absolute discretion and may properly refuse consent where it appears that the sole or principal reason for the application is to evade domestic responsibilities in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bramall

Will my right hon. Friend consider issuing instructions to overseas commands that they should make a more determined attempt to find out whether a man is avoiding his responsibilities, because I have a case in my constituency where no communication has ever been made to the wife by the War Office.

Mr. Bellenger

I do not think that is our responsibility. If my hon. Friend, or indeed any hon. Member, has reason to believe that any soldier is trying to evade his responsibilities to his wife or family in this country, I will certainly look into it, but I will not "snoop "into the lives of soldiers.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Has the Minister any evidence that there is an appreciable number of men who are thus seeking to avoid their domestic responsibilities?

Mr. Bellenger

No, Sir.

Mr. Bramall

Is my right hon. Friend aware that by the time the wife or other dependant knows that this has happened, the man is outside the purview of the War Office and has a civilian job in the Colony or Dominion concerned?

Mr. Bellenger

I would welcome any suggestions from my hon. Friend to try to alleviate these attempts, if there are any, to avoid responsibility to wives and families. After all, I am a family man myself, and I believe in family responsibility.