§ 4.45 p.m.
§ The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will arrange from time to time for limited numbers of Peers to visit a demobilization centre in order to see the arrangements in actual operation.
354§ 4.46 p.m.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD NATHAN)My Lords, what the noble Marquess refers to as demobilization centres, are of two kinds: disembarkation centres and dispersal centres. The dispersal centre is the final stage in the process of release and all those about to be released pass through the dispersal centre. Those returning to this country from abroad for the purpose of release pass first through a disembarkation centre. Members of your Lordships' House will be welcome whenever they wish to pay a visit either to a disembarkation centre or a dispersal centre. With the consent of the noble Marquess, and thinking it will be for the convenience of your Lordships, I am appending to my answer for the purposes of theOfficial Report, a list of disembarkation and dispersal centres giving their addresses and telephone numbers. Members of your Lordships' House who wish to visit any of these centres should write direct to the Commanding Officer in order to arrange a suitable date, or, if they prefer it, communicate with me, I will gladly make the arrangements. The units are working every day; and they are always ready to show visitors round. Visits by members of your Lordships' House would be an encouragement to the Commanding Officers and to those working under them and with them at these centres.
Following is the list of disembarkation and dispersal centres
| MILITARAY DISPERSAL UNITS. | |||
| Command or District. | Title of Unit. | Location. | Tel. No. |
| Scottish | No.1 Military Dispersal Unit | Redford Barracks, Edinburgh. | Edinburgh 88221 |
| Northern | No. 2 Military Dispersal Unit | Fulford Barracks, York | York 53621, Ext. 17 |
| Eastern | No. 3 Military Dispersal Unit | Talavera Camp, Northampton. | Northampton 4771–5 |
| No. 5 Military Dispersal Unit | Queen's Camp, Guildford | Guildford 2391–3 | |
| London | No. 4 Military Dispersal Unit | Regent's Park Barracks, Albany St., N.W.I. | Euston 3051–4 |
| Southern | No. 6 Military Dispersal Unit | Sherford Camp, Taunton | Taunton 4491–5 |
| Western | No. 7 Military Dispersal Unit | North and South Camps, Ashton-under-Lyne. | Ashton-under-Lyne 3051–5 |
| No. 8 Military Dispersal Unit | Bradbury Lines, Hereford | Hereford 2124–6 | |
| Northern Ireland | No. 9 Combined Military Collecting and Dispersal Unit. | Victoria Barracks, Belfast Belfast | Belfast 28121, Ext. 34 |
| MILITARY DISEMBARKATION CAMP UNITS. | |||
| Command or District. | Title of Unit. | Location. | Tel. No. |
| Southern | No. 1 Military Disembarkation Camp Unit. | Ranikhet Camp Reading | Reading 67611–67613 |
| No. 2 Military Disembarkation Camp, Unit | Slade Camp, Oxford | Oxford 7181–5 | |
| Eastern | No. 3 Military Disembarkation Camp Unit | Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, Kent. | Sandgate 78146 Ext. 20. |
| Western | No. 1 Military Disembarkation Camp, Group H.Q. | Hadrian's Camp Carlisle | Carlisle 2190–6 |
| No. 4 Military Disembarkation Camp Unit. | Ditto | Ditto | |
| No. 5 Military Disembarkation Camp Unit. | Ditto | Ditto | |
| Northern | No. 6 Military Disembarkation Camp Unit. | Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall, York. | Strensall 33 |
THE MARQUESS OF READINGI am much obliged to the noble Lord for his answer. This complex procedure has, by all accounts, worked so successfully both in conception and in operation that I am sure it will be the desire of many of your Lordships to take advantage of the facilities to pay a visit to these centres which the noble Lord has been good enough to offer.