§ 28. Major Symondsasked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the number of R.A. officers in C.M.F. due for release within the next three months have had their release dates provisionally deferred.
§ Mr. LawsonUp to 1st July, 31 R.A. officers in C.M.F., due for release in July, August and September, had been compulsorily deferred, out of a total of 177 such officers who were serving in the Command at the date of the latest strength return. The deferments, therefore, represent about 17½ per cent. of the total.
§ 29. Major Symondsasked the Secretary of State for War in what theatres, other than C.M.F., R.A. officers due for release within the next three months have had their release dates provisionally deferred; and what percentage, in each case, the numbers deferred are of the total numbers of R.A. officers in the theatre due for release within the given period.
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§ Mr. LawsonAccording to the latest figures available, which show the position on 15th June, six R. A. officers in M. E. F. and one in A. L. F. S. E. A., of the category referred to, have had their releases deferred; this represents 25 per cent. of the total number of R. A. officers in M. E. F. and nearly one per cent. of the total in India and A. L. F. S. E. A. who are due for release in the next three months. Separate figures of the totals due for release in India and A. L. F. S. E. A. are not available. I have no information of the number of officers who may have been warned locally of the possibility of deferment.
§ 76. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for War under what authority signallers in M.E.F., of Group 33, who should have left for repatriation and subsequent release in mid June have been detained without any notification of deferments.
§ Mr. BellengerI have cabled for information on this matter and will write to my hon. Friend when it is received.