HC Deb 20 May 1952 vol 501 cc245-6
14. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for War the estimated cost of sending 4691891 WS/S/Sgt. G. Grimshaw, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, now living in Fife, to Lydd Town, Kent, for his training as a Z reservist.

Mr. Head

The railway fare, at military rates, will be about £4 13s. Od. for the return journey.

Mr. Hamilton

Is the Secretary of State for War aware that this man, as a result of this posting, will have to travel more than 1,200 miles? Are there not R.E.M.E. units in Scotland and a big one in Yorkshire? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that if this man, being a miner, loses one shift in a week, he loses pay for two shifts, and that as a result of his 15 days' training, a quarter of which is lost in travelling, he will in fact lose four shifts at his work?

Mr. Head

This man is rather rare in so far as he is an armament artificer (radar) and we have only one establishment, at Lydd, where we train this particular very specialised type of man. It will be our intention to get him back in time, and I hope that he will not lose his shifts.

Hon. Members

He will lose them