§ Wing-Commander Erringtonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men are being discharged with 96 clothing coupons and only £2 3s. in cash to provide themselves with clothes; and whether he will take steps to bring the financial payment more into line with the number of coupons.
§ Mr. A. HendersonI append particulars of the clothing which soldiers receive on discharge from the Army. I would also refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) and the1620W hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on 1st August. When a man is discharged he may apply to His Majesty's Customs and Excise for coupons to fit himself with civilian clothes. I understand that the number of coupons granted depends on the clothes the individual possesses. Such coupons are given directly to the individual. The War Department has no responsibility in such matters.
Following are the particulars:
A soldier discharged from the Army for reasons other than misconduct is given a suit, a cap, a collar and a tie. If he is discharged in winter for medical reasons he is also given an overcoat. In addition the soldier is allowed to retain some of his Army clothes, namely, one pair of boots, three shirts, underclothing, four pairs of socks and one woollen pullover. If the soldier prefers to have cash instead of the overcoat, suit, cap, collar and tie he is given £2 4s. for the overcoat and £2 15s. 9d. for the other articles.