§ 56. Mr. Sharpasked the Minister of Defence how many Service men now on 77W Regular engagements were given the option of discharge by purchase at the time of their enlistment; and when he will restore to these men the right which was arbitrarily taken away from them in 1939.
§ Mr. AlexanderI cannot, without imposing an unjustifiable amount of work on the Service Departments, say how many men who joined the Services before 1939, when the system of discharge by purchase was terminated, are still serving. The re-introduction of this system is under consideration. There is no question of a right being arbitrarily withdrawn; the Army and Air Force Acts have always provided that discharges by purchase would cease during an emergency, and Admiralty regulations provide for the suspension of the system at any time at the discretion of the Board. The regulations of all three Services further provide for the withholding of approval in individual cases.