§ 17. Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for War if he will issue instructions that when Service men serving at home or 189 overseas are admitted to hospital seriously ill, the next of kin is immediately informed.
§ Mr. J. AmeryInstructions already provide for the next of kin to be informed as soon as possible after a soldier has been placed on the dangerously or seriously ill list in a military or civil hospital at home or abroad.
§ Mr. HunterArising out of that reply, would the Under-Secretary of State see that these instructions are carried out by the military authorities? A soldier constituent of mine was dangerously ill in a military hospital in Gibraltar, and his mother and father were never informed about it. I hope that instructions will be issued to the military authorities.
§ Mr. AmeryI am aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers, and indeed I am writing to him about it, as I have just had information from Gibraltar about the circumstances. In fact, the soldier was not placed on the dangerously ill list; but perhaps the hon. Gentleman would await the letter that I am writing to him before he forms a final judgment on this matter.