§ 92 Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Mile End can expect a reply in the case of alleged discrimination with regard to ex-Sergeant Siegermister, following his correspondence beginning on 25th November, 1946; if he is aware that, in reply to a further letter of 6th January, an acknowledgment was received dated 8th January stating that the matter would be investigated at once; that a further reminder was sent on nth February, and again on 12th February the hon. Member for Mile End received an acknowledgment stating that the matter would be investigated at once; and if he will now state the result of these investigations.
§ Mr. BellengerThe hon. Member will by now have received a letter dealing fully with this case. I am sorry that it was not possible to let him have an earlier reply.
§ 93 Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for War when the Hon. Member for Mile End can expect a reply to his letters 158W and enclosure of 3oth December, 1946, and of 7th February, 1947, relating to the alleged maltreatment of Corporal Summerlin while under arrest; and if he is aware that there has been no acknowledgment to the last letter.
§ Mr. BellengerThe hon. Member will by now have received a letter dealing fully with the complaints made by this soldier. There is no trace of a letter dealing with this case dated 7th February having been received from the hon. Member.
§ 98. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for War why 13809999 Private Otto Jacobsen, A/S Group 28, due for release in March, 1946, who applied for repatriation and was directed in August, 1946, to be released and repatriated to Kiel, is still awaiting his release and repatriation and has been waiting at 50 R.H.U., B.A.O.R., Bielfeld, since 24th January together with other anti-Fascist Germans who served in the British Army; and whether he will give insrtuctions that this man and others similarly placed shall be released and enabled to take up useful work in their native country.
§ Mr. BellengerThe release of Private Jacobsen and others who were repatriated from C.M.F. to Germany has been delayed pending completion with the responsible authorities in Germany of the necessary arrangements for their return to civil life there. I hope that it will be possible to release these men shortly.
§ 99 Mr. Wilkesasked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider his refusal given by letter on 28th February. to grant compassionate release or home posting to 19114754 Private R. D. Wallace, R.A.M.C., D Company, Boyce Barracks, Crookham, Hampshire, whose home is at 266 Stanton Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, bearing in mind that Wallace's two small children have been deserted by their mother and that his own mother is in ill health and has two children, one with suspected tuberculosis, to look after.
§ Mr. BellengerI have again considered this case, but for the reasons given in a letter dated 8th March, which I have sem my hon. Friend, I regret that I am not prepared to reverse the previous decision.
§ 107 Mr. C. Smithasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has completed 159W the inquiries into the position of a soldier 14944324 Private S.; and whether he has satisfied himself that this man's ability and experience are going to be more adequately used in the future than they have been during the past two years of his service.
§ Mr. BellengerI have completed my inquiries. After his posting to B.A.O.R. in December, 1945, this soldier was for three months employed as a clerk. Since April, 1946, he has been employed as a unit education instructor. I find that he has no engineering qualifications or experience which would justify his employment with a technical corps of the Army. I propose therefore that he should continue to carry out his present duties and I am satisfied that his experience will thus be adequately utilized.