§ 40. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement as to how long the Brigade of Guards is likely to remain in Malaya; and if any arrangements are being made to allow wives to join their husbands.
§ Mr. ShinwellIt is not the practice to publish information of the kind asked for in the first part of the Question. Officers and other ranks serving overseas must have at least 12 months still to serve overseas in order to qualify for family passages at Government expense. Applications for family passages are sponsored by the overseas command in question; none have been received from the military authorities in the Far East for the families of officers and other ranks of the Guards Brigade in Malaya. Family passages at public expense may be granted only to Regulars, including officers and other ranks serving on short service commissions or engagements.