HC Deb 27 November 1945 vol 416 cc1238-42W
Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that an officer, of whose identity he has been informed, is being held back from Class B release as a teacher despite the undertaking given on 20th April last that employment in Army education duties would not prejudice such releases; and if, in view of the fact that this teacher's services are urgently required by the county high school on whose staff he is employed and that he is at present in England on L.1.A.P., he will order this officer's release forthwith.

Mr. Lawson

No, Sir. No recommendation for release as a key individual has been received on behalf of this officer and, as I have already informed hon. Members, members of the A.E.C. are not at present included in bulk releases in Class B owing to the requirements of the Army Education Scheme. No undertaking has been given to the A.E.C. regarding Class B release. An individual cannot initiate a request for or claim release in Class B. Such releases are offered solely in the national interest.

Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

asked the Secretary of State for War what further steps are now being taken to remove the necessity for the deferment of officers in B.A.O.R. in early groups; and whether he can yet make any statement giving an approximate date when the deferment can be lifted.

Mr. Lawson

At present I cannot add anything to my statement on 8th November.

Mrs. Middleton

asked the Secretary of State for War why troops serving in the India Command have been informed by official sources that the initiative in Class B releases lies with the former employer; and whether he will take steps to see that all ranks are informed of the correct procedure and the men in this command given an assurance that they are receiving equality of treatment in this matter with men serving either at home or in other commands.

Mr. Lawson

The initiative in fact rests with the employer, except for bulk releases, in which case the selection is made by the War Office. The soldier in India is not at any disadvantage.

Mr. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider extending the principle of granting release to former prisoners of war, so as to include all men in groups 1 to 35 who were prisoners of war for periods exceeding six months in the aggregate.

Mr. Lawson

No, Sir. As previously explained, prisoners of war liberated from the Japanese have been regarded as a special case, but it has been decided not to give preferential treatment over other soldiers as regards release to other ex-prisoners of war.

Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for War how many applicants for Class C release have now been so released since the end of hostilities against Germany; and how many of such applicants have been transferred to Class W (T) Reserve.

Mr. Lawson

Between 18th June, 1945, when the general release scheme began, and 20th November, 1945, 13,485 Army personnel were released in Class C for an indefinite period. During the same period 11,956 were granted temporary releases, involving, in the case of soldiers, relegation to Class W or W (T) of the Reserve. Between VE-Day and the start of the release scheme 3,225 persons had been granted temporary release. All the figures include officers, nurses and A.T.S., as well as soldiers.

Mrs. Middleton

asked the Secretary of State for War why service in the War Transport reserves from November, 1940, to July, 1943, is not computed as a period of war service for the purpose of demobilisation in the case of a man who joined up in September, 1939, and was transferred to the War Transport reserves at the request of his Department.

Mr. Lawson

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to service in Class W (T) Reserve. If so, I would refer her to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to my hon. Friend the Member for Carnarvonshire (Mr. G. Roberts) on 23rd August.

Major Symonds

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the announcement issued by A.G. Branch G.H.Q., India, and reprinted in the newspaper "S.E.A.C." on 1st November, 1945, that no demand for the release of teachers under Class B had to that date been received in India from his Department; and why no offer, of Class B release have been made to teachers serving in the Forces in India.

Mr. Lawson

I have no knowledge of the announcement in question, nor can I trace any reference to it in the issue of "S.E.A.C." of 1st November. In offering release in Class B no distinction is made between men in India and elsewhere, but, as hon. Members know, we do not at present offer release under Class B bulk releases to members of the A.E.C., wherever they are serving. Recommendations for release as key individuals are considered on their merits, and teachers belonging to other arms and corps are included in bulk releases.

Captain Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Service personnel released under Class C lose all or any of their gratuity and other release benefits.

Mr. Lawson

Those released for an indefinite period in Class C receive the normal Class A benefits except the 56 days' leave. They receive an equivalent money payment in place of overseas service leave.

Mr. Maude

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that upon 13th November, 1945, some 150 men, who had recently been returned to this country from serving in the 14th Army in Burma, reported for demobilisation at the R.A. depot, Woolwich, where their kit was withdrawn in the regimental-quartermaster's stores for I Battery, and that the men were left without greatcoats and suffering from the cold for some 36 hours; and whether steps will be taken to prevent such an occurrence in future.

Mr. Lawson

I have been unable to confirm this. On the contrary, it is the practice of the Depot to provide greatcoats as quickly as possible to men who arrive from overseas without them. If the hon. Member wishes to pursue the matter perhaps he would let me have further particulars of the men in question.

Mr. Braddock

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that teachers in the Army who have received notification of release under Class B and who have tilled in the necessary documents to make their release possible, have been informed that as they are working in War Office Selection Boards their cases have been frozen until Christmas on the authority of the Director of Selection of Personnel and that the freezing process has been extended to apply to all sergeants employed by the directorate which includes a large number of teachers; that since this happened these sergeants have been given trade pay and have now been technically graded as specialists; and if he will take immediate steps to release the men involved.

Mr. Lawson

I explained the position of these sergeant testers on 30th October in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. S. Marshall). Only nine teachers now remain with the Selection Board, including six who desirerelease. These are expected to be released in December. No specialist or trade pay has been given to sergeant testers. Out of 176 teachers employed as sergeant testers outside the Selection Boards, 118 have been released. The remainder are still held for the reasons previously given. A small number were inadvertently offered release, which some refused and others accepted, and it has been necessary to hold these up tem- porarily until replacements can be provided.

Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, in a unit of whose identity he has been notified, men who are due for early release are being issued with much worn secondhand underclothing; and if he will give instructions that all underclothing issued is to be new, or consider, in consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, the possibility of increasing the allocation of clothing coupons to newly demobilised men.

Mr. Lawson

The stock position does not permit the issue of new items of clothing to all soldiers on release. In calculating the number of coupons to be issued to the released soldier, the clothing retained by him is assumed to be part worn.