3. Mr. Lisbonasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will arrange for transit camps to be provided in the Middle and Far East to enable wives to sail with their husbands when they are posted there and to live there until permanent married quarters are available.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Arthur Henderson)The proposal of the hon. Member would involve the construction of a large number of transit camps overseas in view of the widely scattered areas involved. This could only be undertaken at the expense of the married quarters programme and other building work. I think the greatest service to families is achieved by concentrating our efforts on the provision of married quarters.
§ Mr. LipsonWill not my right hon. and learned Friend have more regard to the point of view of the Service men and their wives; does not he agree that it is quite proper that they should desire normal family life in peace time; and will not they have to wait a very long time for the married quarters' programme to be carried out?
§ Mr. HendersonI think that the best thing we can do for our married people is to provide them with quarters, not transit camps. It is because I do not want to slow down the building programme of married quarters that I think it inadvisable to start transit camps, which would require construction almost to the same extent as married quarters.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesWould not the best way of safeguarding family life for these men and women be to bring the men home?