§ Major Thorneycroftasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists among sailors, soldiers and airmen at Park Prewitt Hospital, Basingstoke, due to their unequal treatment in respect of leave between operations of a plastic nature; and what steps he has taken, and proposes to take, in order to reach an agreed and uniform policy with the other two Service Departments concerned;
(2) what arrangements exist for the granting of leave, other than privilege or compassionate leave, to soldiers between operations of a plastic nature at Park Prewitt Hospital, near Basingstoke; and whether such arrangements are proving satisfactory?
§ Captain MargessonSoldiers at this hospital receive the normal period of seven days privilege leave four times a year if the soldier is fit to travel and the grant of such leave will not interfere with his progress to recovery. Experience has shown that any further leave beyond this is more likely to retard than to hasten their recovery. I am not aware of any dissatisfaction among soldiers in regard to these arrangements and no change in them is contemplated.