§ Mr. JOYCEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a man who had joined the Army Service Corps for two years with the Colours and ten years in the Reserve in 1904, and whose time had expired in January, 1916, but who, being on active service, had to serve another twelve months, and who then claimed his discharge, which he was told could not be granted to him, and who then claimed one month's leave of absence, which was also refused, is entitled at least to a leave of absence for one month; and will he say whether in such cases, where owing to the War a soldier cannot get his discharge, the leave will be granted?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo man is entitled to claim a leave of absence. Every endeavour is made, however, to grant to N.C.O's. and men, situated as in the case which my hon. Friend quotes, a, month's leave. This leave is dependent on the exigencies of the Service, and is of course more easily given in France than in the more distant theatres of war.