§ 84. Major Wilkesasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the hospital ship "Somersetshire," which arrived in the United Kingdom on 9th February, 1946, had 18 non-patient passengers on board, consisting of wives and children of officers stationed in India; that dissatisfaction exists amongst Service personnel in hospitals in India due to the delay in evacuating wounded Servicemen to the United Kingdom; that one Regular officer with 11 years and 2 months service overseas was struck off the roll of patients to travel on this ship owing to this misuse of shipping space, particulars of which have been given him; and whether he will make inquiries into this case to avoid repetition.
§ Mr. LawsonI am aware that a small number of passengers travelled in this hospital ship who should not have been allowed to do so. I have issued instructions to ensure that in future only invalid passengers will be embarked in hospital ships. I understand that the Regular officer with long overseas service to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers was not in fact prevented from travelling on this ship by the presence of non-patient passengers on board; he was not on the rolls for evacuation by hospital ship.