§ Major Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to recent prosecutions of Home Guard personnel on charges of absence from duty; and whether he will issue a clarified instruction to be circulated to all Home Guard commanders to indicate, for the information of all concerned, what circumstances of essential employment are considered sufficient to justify such absence?
§ Sir J. GriggIt is not practicable to issue general instructions to cover the varying circumstances of individual cases. I have no reason to think that doubt about the conditions justifying absence from duty has been a factor in any of the comparatively few cases where prosecution has been found necessary.
§ Sir D. Hackingasked the Secretary of State for War his reasons for not allowing women to receive instruction with the Home Guard in the use of firearms?
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§ Sir J. GriggThe reason for this decision is that all the weapons and instructional facilities available are needed for the training and operational duties of members of the Home Guard.