§ 75. Mr. McAdamasked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the final figures for deferment of officers of Group 34 in the Middle East.
§ Mr. LawsonFifty-five officers in this group, serving in Middle East, had been 133W deferred up to 15th July. In no case is it likely that the period of deferment will exceed three months.
§ 91. Mr. M. Lindsayasked the Secretary of State for War how many tradesmen in M.E.F. have had their release deferred; and for how long.
§ Mr. LawsonSeventy-five, up to 15th July. I cannot give the exact period of deferment in each case, but, as I have previously stated, the period is kept as short as possible and should not normally exceed three months at the most.
§ 103. Mr. Howardasked the Secretary of State for War the total numbers, by groups, of Royal Signals officers released and deferred as operationally vital in the United Kingdom and in each of the main overseas commands up to some convenient date at the end of June; what is the average period of deferment in each command, by groups; what estimate can be given of the extent of deferment of
Numbers of Royal Signals officers reported deferred for operational reasons at 15th July, 1946. Age and Service Group. United Kingdom. B.A.O.R. M.E.F. C.M.F. West Africa. B.A.S. France. Total. 27 … … — — 3 — 1 — 4 28 … … — — 29 — 2 — 31 29 … … — — 17 — — — 17 30 … … — 16 4 5 — 1 26 31 … … 1 22 4 11 — — 38 32 … … 1 17 15 10 — — 43 33 … … — 9 7 5 — — 21 34 … … 2 4 12 6 — — 24 35 … … — — 5 2 — — 7 36 … … — — 7 — 1 — 8 4 68 103 39 4 1 219
Indication of duration of deferment of Royal Signals officers as signalled by commands, etc: United Kingdom: 3 months. B.A.O.R.: All temporary. M.E.F.: All temporary. C.M.F.: Up to three months. West Africa: Temporary pending arrival of replacements. B.A.S. France: Temporary pending arrival of replacements.
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Numbers of Royal Signals officers in Groups 27 onwards released to 15th July, 1946. Age and Service Group. United Kingdom. B.A.O.R. M.E.F. C.M.F. West Africa. Total. 27 … … 161 145 52 75 3 436 28 … … 67 48 8 38 1 162 29 … … 29 36 — 25 1 91 30 … … 26 18 5 13 2 64 31 … … 23 10 3 5 — 41 32 … … 22 11 1 7 2 43 33 … … 5 4 1 3 1 24 34 … … 2 10 1 7 — 20 345 282 71 173 10 881 these officers likely for July, August and September, respectively; and what steps are being taken to speed up the flow of replacements to the commands principally affected.
§ Mr. LawsonThe hon. Member will no doubt appreciate that there arc many varying and conflicting factors governing the extent of deferment likely at a future date, and I therefore do not fee! justified in making forecasts which might cause disappointment among the officers concerned. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that we are making every effort to improve the position by sending to commands outside Europe practically every officer who is so eligible, and by maintaining B.A.O.R. and C.M.F. largely with ex-Python officers. In order to make this possible, it has been necessary to defer on operational grounds some officers serving in this country, the United Kingdom thus sharing the incidence of deferment with B.A.O.R. and C.M.F.
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§ 104. Mr. Howardasked the Secretary of State for War if an officer in C.M.F., whose deferment as operationally vital is being applied for by his commanding officer, is permitted to appeal against such deferment on any or all of the following grounds: that he is not, in fact, employed operationally; that by re-organisation in his unit, he could be released without sacrifice of operational efficiency; or, that he will suffer personal hardship through the deferment; and to whom the appeal should be addressed in each case.
§ Mr. LawsonAn officer or other rank may appeal against deferment of release on any ground, but normally only reasons of personal hardship are accepted. All appeals must be made to the commanding officer of the unit, who forwards them through the proper channels to the command headquarters.
§ 110. Mr. Hoyasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the delay in releasing Royal Signals officers in the West Africa Command; and what steps he is taking to expedite the release of those officers.
§ Mr. LawsonThe present total of Royal Signals Officers in West Africa Command whose release is deferred on operational grounds is three. This, I am glad to say, is an improvement on the figure of five at 30th June, which I quoted in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 16th July. Efforts are being made to find suitable replacements, at least one of whom is being despatched in August.
§ Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for War, why all men in release Groups 34, 35, 36 and 37, including those granted Class B releases and those due for Python leave, in 13 Corps, C.M.F., have been warned that their releases will be deferred; whether he authorised the issue of these warnings of block deferments; whether these deferments will be for a definite period; and why adequate replacements are not available for this theatre.
§ Mr. LawsonI explained the situation in C.M.F. on 9th July in reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) and South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan), and I can assure my hon. Friend that I am continuing to do all I can to remedy the situation by136W providing replacements. I am not aware of block deferments having been made, but have called for a report from the theatre and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as a reply is received.
§ Lieut-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for War why a compulsory block deferment of two months has been imposed on men in age and service Group 36 serving in 519 Company, R.A.S.C, C.M.F.
§ Mr. LawsonThere has been no block deferment although I am aware that it has been necessary to defer individuals. The general position regarding R.A.S.C. drivers in C.M.F. was explained on 23rd July in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown).