§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say when it is proposed to make arrangements for soldiers in Salonika, Mesopotamia, and Egypt to get leave; and if he is aware that there are many cases of soldiers not having received leave since the outbreak of war?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave this afternoon to an oral question by my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham, South.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Under-Secretary for War what steps are being taken to grant home-leave to the men in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force who have had no leave for over three years?
317W
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs stated yesterday a regular leave service from Salonika has been arranged, and I am pleased to say that the number proceeding on leave is now about 5,000 each month. In the case of Egypt it has not been possible, on account of active operations, for the authorities to take full advantage of the opportunities which have been offered to them recently. Arrangements have been made for the conveyance of 2,600 from Mesopotamia, and other opportunities will be taken advantage of as they occur. I would remind the House that the opportunities available from these parts are necessarily dependent on the shipping situation and the number of troops required to be moved for urgent military requirements, but every effort is made to provide facilities to the extent of the shipping available.