HC Deb 13 March 1967 vol 743 cc45-6
49. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has satisfied himself that 22779047 Lance-Corporal D. Wainwright, now serving with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, in Aden, and a constituent of the honourable Member for St. Helens, can afford the air fare, £63, to the United Kingdom, so that he can be with, his family whilst his wife undergoes a major operation at the Military Hospital, Aldershot; and whether he will reconsider his decision not to meet the cost of Lance-Corporal Wainwright's flight home.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. James Boyden)

For reasons which I have explained to my hon. Friend, compassionate leave would not be justified in this case.

Mr. Spriggs

Is my hon. Friend aware that leave has been granted, providing that Lance-Corporal Wainwright will pay his own fare home from Aden? Is he aware that Lance-Corporal Wainwright's first application was rejected outright on the ground that he could not be spared, but that on the second application he was allowed compassionate leave provided that he paid the £63 fare home? Is not this a disgrace and is it not time the Department stopped shilly-shallying and treated Servicemen with justice?

Mr. Boyden

Compassionate leave is allowed only in cases where a soldier's presence at home is considered to be essential. In this case I am very pleased to say that, after an exploratory operation last Thursday, Mrs. Wainwright was discharged from hospital on Saturday. I understand that a major operation will not now be necessary. The matter was given very careful and sympathetic consideration.

Sir H. Harrison

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that most people think that the Services take a very compassionate view of most of these applications, but that in some cases like this, unfortunately, the details get into the papers and the Services, perhaps wrongly, are given a bad name?

Mr. Boyden

I can speak quite objectively about this matter. I have been at the Ministry of Defence for only two months. I have been very impressed with the care taken by the staff to look into all cases and I give my personal attention to all the details of every compassionate case which comes on my desk.