THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government, what steps are 896WA being taken to relieve the great shortage of passenger accommodation between this country and the West Indies; whether they are aware that a large proportion of the berths in each direction are occupied by Service personnel, who are often posted to the West Indies for very short periods, sometimes prior to demobilisation; and whether they will instruct the Services concerned to review the whole system of overseas postings so as to avoid men being sent abroad for a few weeks, thus causing unnecessary expense to the taxpayer, as well as inconvenience and loss to other would-be travellers who are often kept waiting many months, if not years, before being able to secure passages.
§ LORD WALKDENTo relieve immediate difficulties, my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport made available space for ordinary civilian passengers in a troopship which left the West Indies in May. Space is also being allotted in another troopship due to sail from Trinidad at the end of July. To meet the demand for outward space in the autumn a civilian transport will make a voyage to the West Indies towards the end of August.
The long-term and wider aspects of West Indian shipping services are being considered by the Commonwealth Shipping Committee. I am advised that Services personnel are not posted to the West Indies for very short periods. In the case of the Army, no man is posted who has not at least eight months of useful service outstanding before being posted; for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force the normal minimum periods are two years and one year respectively. Cases of compassionate leave and of need to replace men in undermanned trades may sometimes arise which shorten the time overseas, but I am assured that these do not occur on any appreciable scale.
House adjourned at twenty-two minutes before three o'clock.