§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is any regular system of granting leave to men in the Royal Engineers Inland Waterways and Docks Construction Corps; whether he is aware that men in this corps now stationed at Sedbury Camp have had no leave for many months, and that, although the shipyard at Chepstow was closed for ten days at Christmas, very few of these men were granted leave; whether he is also aware that up to a few days ago no refund of allotment had been made; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe same leave is granted in this as in other arms of the Service, but, in view of the number of newly-enlisted men employed at Sedbury, a large majority are not eligible for leave. For some time, however, an average of 2.5 per cent. per week-end have received leave. The shipyard was closed on Christmas Day only. Full Christmas leave was given, and 10 per cent. of the strength approximately proceeded on Christmas and New Year leave. I am not clear as to what my hon. Friend refers to in the last part of the question, but if he has in mind the recent changes in pay and separation. allowance, the matter is receiving the closest attention and will be adjusted as soon as possible.
§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if a soldier on home service who has not had a service leave since 1914 will be granted another service leave, as provided by Army Council Instructions, if he has in the interval had a special leave until three months has elapsed since the date on which he was granted a special leave?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid my hon. Friend's question is not quite understood. Soldiers on home service may be granted short leave during the week, but not on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays if railway journeys are involved. In exceptional circumstances, and provided men can rejoin their unit immediately if 515W recalled, there is no objection to leave being granted on any day to any individual if circumstances warrant it.
§ Mr. MORRELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) if he will have inquiries made into the case of Private Walter Waite, No. 44189, Royal Army Medical Corps, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, who has now been on active service abroad, including service in Gallipoli, for over three years without any leave whatever, and in particular if he will ascertain whether during this time this man has undergone an attack of enteric fever, from which his health has suffered; and, if so, whether he will advise that some leave of absence should be granted him; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the complaints that come from the more distant theatres of war as to the refusal to grant leave after long and arduous service; whether he is aware that in many cases men have been on active service for two and even for three years without any leave whatever; and whether there is any prospect of improvement, so as to ensure a fair equality of treatment for these men as compared with the men serving in France?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe grant of leave rests in the discretion of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, and I am afraid it is not practicable to make inquiries in individual cases. I can assure my hon. Friend that the military authorities are most anxious to arrange for leave to be given in such eases as far as transport facilities will permit of it, and I hope that the position will improve as time goes on.
§ Colonel PENRY WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any progress has been made with the question of the granting of leave to men with the Salonika, Egyptian, and Mesopotamia Expeditionary Forces; and whether he can now hold out any hope that men who have been in these distant theatres of war for over two years will be given leave to visit their homes?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers which I gave yesterday on this subject.