§ 32. Mr. McAdamasked the Secretary of State for War why regular soldiers who purchase their discharge are called 260 upon to surrender the whole of their Army clothing; are not provided with any civilian clothing; and have to pay their own transport fare from their Service depot to their home.
§ Mr. ShinwellA soldier who purchases his discharge is required to pay a sum of money to the War Department in order to be allowed to break his contract. It would hardly be reasonable to give the benefits which he would have received if he had fulfilled the contract. As regards the first part of the Question, however, soldiers discharged by purchase are allowed to keep some articles of Army clothing.
§ Mr. McAdamDoes not my right hon. Friend think that the soldier who was called up in 1940, was decorated for special service in the field, opted to take on for a period as a Regular serving soldier, and ultimately is compelled to purchase his discharge after rising to the rank of warrant officer because of the ill-health of his wife, is entitled to the same treatment as the National Service man?
§ Mr. ShinwellHe is in quite a different category from that of the National Service man. He wishes to be discharged from the Army and he must accept the conditions which obtain in consequence of that discharge.