§ Mr. C. Smithasked the Minister without Portfolio the normal tours of duty in each of the principal overseas commands for each of the three services, indicating what provision there is, in each case, for leave in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. AlexanderThe normal length of foreign service commissions in the Royal Navy is 2½ years during which no provision is made for leave in the United Kingdom except on urgent compassionate grounds. On return to the United Kingdom at the end of the commission foreign service leave at the rate of seven days for each six months abroad plus one day for each odd month is granted in respect of the whole period spent overseas. Service in North-West Europe does not count for this purpose for Naval personnel. 23W They are allowed 19 days leave in the United Kingdom every six months during their period of service in North-West Europe.
Army command or Area Period of overseas service Qualifying for repatriation under the python scheme. Arrangements for normal home leave during overseas tour. India, Far East 3 years … … One L.I.A.P. (28 days in the United Kingdom) during overseas tour but owing to shipping difficulties this can at present be granted only to about one man in five. South Caribbean Area 3 years … … Nil North Caribbean Area, Bermuda 3 years 3 months … … Nil Middle East, East Africa. Malta and Gibraltar 3 years 3 months … … One L.I.A.P. during overseas tour. C.M.F. (South Italy) 3 years 6 months … … 38 days' privilege leave a year, to be taken in one period of 38 days or two of 19 days. C.M.F. (North Italy), British Troops Austria and B.A.O.R 3 years 9 months … … Notes.—In some cases the actual tours of duty have not vet been brought down to the newly introduced qualifying periods.
R.A.F. Command or Overseas Area. Tour of duty after which men become due for repatriation. Arrangements for normal home leave to the United Kingdom during the overseas tour. Mediterranean, Middle East 2½ years (see notes (a) and (b)). No home leave to the United Kingdom during the tour overseas, except for personnel serving in Austria and Italy who are allowed 19 days' home leave every six months. India, Far East, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, and the United States of America. 2½years No home leave to the United Kingdom during the tour overseas. West Africa 15 months No home leave to the United Kingdom during the tour overseas. Gibraltar and Azores 18 months No home leave to the United Kingdom during the tour overseas. West Indies 2 years No home leave to the United Kingdom during the tour overseas. Iceland and the Faroe Islands 1 year No home leave to the United Kingdom during the tour overseas British Air Forces of Occupation (Germany). 2 years 19 days home leave every six months (a) Personnel will not serve for more than one year of their 2½ years' tour in the Persian Gulf area, Aden, Sudan or areas in East Africa under an altitude of, 3,000 feet, but officers filling key posts in Aden, who are required for retention may, subject to approval by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, be required to complete a tour of 2 years. (b) Personnel will not serve in Iraq for more than 2 years of their 2½ years' tour.