§ 12. Sir Hugh Lucas-Toothasked the Secretary of State for War how many men of the 14th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, now under orders for service in the Far East have had less than six months in England since returning from service in the Far East; and whether it is his policy to allow men to do two successive full terms of duty in the Far East without any intervening break of home service.
§ Mr. ShinwellOne man has been reposted to the Far East after less than six months' stay in this country. He had returned here for parachute training, but had been found to be unsuitable. He has, therefore, been sent back to the Far East to complete his tour of service overseas, which is the normal practice in such cases. Officers and men who return from the Far East after completing their overseas tour are not normally reposted there for at least 18 months after their return to this country. It has, however, been necessary to make exceptions for operational reinforcements. In such cases, subject to operational conditions, the individuals will be given the option of returning to the United Kingdom six months after disembarking in the Far East.
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothAssuming that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the one man about whom I have written to him, does he think it right that a young man of 22, after doing three years' service in the Far East, should be allowed only just six months at home before being sent out to do a further tour of duty in the Far East?
§ Mr. ShinwellIt surely depends on the circumstances. In this particular instance the circumstances were exceptional, because the man had been returned here for specialised training, and when he was found unsuitable we naturally reposted him.