HC Deb 13 November 1945 vol 415 cc2043-6W
Mr. Sunderland

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will exclude school teachers from the group of officers in B.A.O.R. whose demobilisation groups have been deferred on the ground of extreme shortage of teachers in the schools.

Mr. Lawson

No, Sir. But the release of teachers under Class B continues, both for officers and men.

Colonel O. Poole

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will supplement the present issue of clothing to all men on demobilisation by the addition of a working suit of overalls.

Mr. Lawson

No, Sir. The aim was to provide a good general outfit, to enable the soldier to compare favourably with the average civilian. This is being done and I see no reason to alter the scope of the outfit by bringing in working clothing, which varies with the individual.

Mr. Garry Allighan

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that applications for compassionate release under Class C are being converted into temporary transfer to W. (T) Reserve and, as that imposes a penalty on the men's group release assessments, they feel compelled to refuse it; and whether he will see that applications for release under Class C are either permitted or rejected and not altered without the applicant's consent.

Mr. Lawson

All releases for a temporary or indefinite period are subject to the soldier's consent, and he is warned that the period of temporary release does not count as service in assessing his release group.

Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that 6030567, Lance-corporal E. A. Everett, Office of Liaison Representative, British Military Mission, Durban, who is in Release Group 22, will return to the United Kingdom in time to be demobilised on or before 6th December.

Mr. Lawson

Like other soldiers in his group, Lance-Corporal Everett will be released between 25th November and 6th December unless he volunteers to defer his release or is retained in the Service on the grounds of vital military necessity.

Mr. Longden

asked the Secretary of State for War the approximate figures of Servicemen of 35 years of age and upwards who will remain in the Forces at the end of this year, with the figures of men in the same age groups that are likely, under present plans, to be left in by next June.

Mr. Lawson

I can only give very rough estimates based on the existing programme of releases, and ignoring certain incalculable factors, such as Class B or compassionate releases, and voluntary deferments. On that basis the figures are 240, 000 and 100, 000 respectively, so far as the Army is concerned.

Mr. H. Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for War why men awaiting demobilisation are being sent to training camps and, compelled to train for trades other than their own and given no choice, for instance, a bricklayer had to train as an equipment assistant.

Mr.Lawson

Men in the earlier release groups are not selected for training in Army trades. If my hon. Friend will furnish particulars of any such case he may have in mind it will be investigated.

Mr. Attewell

asked the Secretary of State for War when officers in Group 21 and upwards, whose release under Class A has been deferred, may expect release.

Mr. Lawson

Officers in Group 21 will be released between 10th November and 12th February. The precise dates on which later groups will be released are still under consideration.

Mr. Attewell

asked the Secretary of State for War if officers in Group 21 upwards, whose release under Class A is deferred, are so deferred as the result of individual inquiry into each case and if he is now able to report the reason for retaining such officers now serving in R.E.M.E., C.M.F.

Mr. Lawson

The reasons for deferring the release of officers in Groups 21, 22, 23 and 24 were fully given in my statement on 16th October when I explained why it had become necessary to defer the release of whole groups of officers rather than individuals. The deferment of the release of individual officers in these group on grounds of military necessity, by inquiry into each individual case, is therefore temporarily suspended.

Captain Gammans

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have had their demobilisation deferred by reason of the fact that additional reinforcements have had to be sent to Palestine.

Mr. Lawson

None, Sir, as far as I am aware.

Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Army officers have been offered Class. B release as schoolmasters; whether offers of Class B release have been made to as many age and service groups of officers as of other ranks and to as high a proportion of the numbers eligible.

Mr. Lawson

Up to 3rd November, 762 offers had been made. So far as age and service groups are concerned no distinction is now drawn between officers and other ranks, although individuals in either case may be refused release on grounds of military necessity. This applies particularly to the Army Educational Corps. The proportion of officers as compared with other ranks, who are eligible for release as schoolmasters cannot be stated but, subject to the individual exceptions mentioned above, offers have been or are being made to all those whose names have been approved by the Ministry of Education.

Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the cases, details of which have been submitted to him, of two graduates of London University, previously working for the Bath Education Committee and the Education Committee of the Surrey County Council, respectively, who urgently require their release from service in the Army Education Corps; and whether, in view of the urgent demand for teachers, he will consider the immediate release of those teachers still in the service of the Army Education Corps, where the duties are of an administrative rather than an instructional character and consequently do not specifically require the services of qualified teachers.

Mr. Lawson

I am inquiring into the cases, with particular reference to the duties now being performed by these men. I will write to the hon. Member in due course, dealing with the points of detail raised in the correspondence.

Captain Drayson

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give immediate attention to a letter from Messrs. G. H. Mason and Sons, of Skipton, sent to his Department on 5th November, 1945, regarding the release of Lance-Bombardier W. Lightle, 1140445, who is a fully trained plumber and whose retention in the Forces is retarding the housing programme in the Skipton area.

Mr. Lawson

The letter in question was received and acknowledged on 7th November and answered on 10th November.