HC Deb 11 December 1957 vol 579 cc1253-4
35. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities are available to ex-Service men who marry while on service overseas to enable them to bring their wives to this country when the ex-Service man has returned home.

Mr. J. Amery

I will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a summary of the regulations covering entitlement to family passages. If a soldier, of his own free will, leaves his wife behind him when he returns home for discharge he has no further right to a free passage for her to join him; but this is a rare occurrence and a case for granting exceptional treatment would be considered on its merits.

Mr. Sorensen

If I bring to the hon. Gentleman's attention the case of a soldier in my constituency whose wife is still in Malaya, will he sympathetically consider ways and means of bringing her back to her husband?

Mr. Amery

Yes, Sir; of course.

Following are the regulations:—

To be eligible for a passage for his family an officer must be 25 years or over, serving on a Regular engagement; and a soldier must be 21 years or over, serving on a regular engagement. When a Service man marries at a station overseas approved as suitable for families, his family is eligible for a free passage home provided that:

  1. (a) the wife was a member of the Women's Service or a Service family, and so entitled to a passage on that account; or
  2. (b) the wife has been resident in the country concerned for at least six months before the expected end of the soldier's tour overseas.