§ Mr. Houghtonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that medical officers on National Service in the Far East are being called upon to serve for 21 months in that zone, which compares unfavourably with the 12 or 14 months of the average National Service man; that departure for England is deferred until a few days before demobilisation, thus allowing no terminal leave required to prepare for resettlement in civilian life; and whether he will take steps to shorten the period of service in the Far East, or to ensure that terminal leave is granted in this country.
§ Mr. HeadThe period spent in Far East Land Forces or Korea by a National Service officer or other rank is governed chiefly by the minimum age and service requirements for those theatres. A National Service medical officer, on account of his medical training, is older than the average National Service man when he comes in and is not affected in the same way by these restrictions. Like all other National Service men, every effort is made to get him home on the proper date for release and he gets his terminal leave when he reports for part-time service.