§ 53. Mrs. Emmetasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a National Service man, due for release on 17th November, left camp at Salisbury on the evening of the 16th to sleep at Tunbridge Wells, which he subsequently left at 6.30 a.m. on the 17th for the Pioneer Camp at Wrexham, which he reached at 2 p.m., in order to have his card stamped; that the man left Wrexham at 3 p.m. without being offered a meal and arrived home at 1.30 a.m. having had to walk from Tunbridge Wells in full kit; why the stamping of the card was not done by post in order to save expense to his Department and time and irritation to the man; and what is the yearly cost of such journeys.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Antony Head)This soldier was serving in the Royal Army Service Corps near Salisbury. He was due to perform his part-time service in a Royal Pioneer Corps unit of the Army Emergency Reserve and, as is usual in the case of such transfers, was given pay and ration allowance to cover meals and instructed to report to the Royal Pioneer Corps Depot, Wrexham. Instead of going straight to Wrexham, Private Garrett broke his journey by going to his home in Sussex. I have written to my hon. Friend giving fuller details.
§ 58. Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions for 22803100 Boy T. M. Groves, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, aged 16½ years, now serving in an active service area in Cyprus to be removed from that country, in view of the distress caused to the boy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Groves, 29, Lela Avenue, Hounslow, West, and in view of the letter written by Mr. Groves to the War Office on 29th November, to which the War Office replied on 8th December.
§ Mr. HunterWill the Minister bear in mind that this is causing the mother illness and distress? This boy is only 16½ years of age. Surely we do not need to send boys of that age to Cyprus. I ask the Minister to reconsider this matter. I think it is scandalous to send such young boys to serve in Cyprus.
§ Mr. HeadI would ask the House to consider this point: band-boys are available for service world-wide. In Cyprus, their duties are restricted to being band-boys in the band, and they do not carry out operational duties. In Cyprus itself there are large numbers of children and officers' married families. Quite frankly, these boys doing their duties with the band are not subjected to the risks which the hon. Member has suggested.
§ Mr. G. ThomasIn view of the fact that the whole of Cyprus is a danger area and that persons such as the one mentioned by my hon. Friend are juveniles, has the Minister sought the consent of parents before exposing these children—for such they be—to this unnecessary danger? Is not he aware that no one would have expected them to be on operational duties? He need not take any pride in the fact that he is exposing them to this danger.
§ Mr. HeadSo far as I know, no representations from other parents of these boys have been made to me. I would like the House to keep a sense of proportion in this matter, and also to remember that there have been boys, like Boy Cornwall, who have served very finely in the past.
§ Mr. HunterIn view of that very unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice 1844 that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.