§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Undersecretary of State for War if he will give instructions for leave to be granted to Private William Gray, No. 386814, 73rd Labour Company Battalion, attached to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, British Expeditionary Force, France, whose wife is now in an asylum and whose two children, aged five and seven years, have been taken to the workhouse; and, as the man is very anxious to get home to rearrange his domestic affairs, and 720W having applied several times without success, will he see that the man's request is granted at once?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am writing to my hon. Friend regarding this case.
Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Undersecretary of State for War if he is aware that on 3rd July week-end leave, after being granted to a soldier at Shire-hampton, was cancelled; that after this he was sent to the doctor to be inoculated; that on refusal the leave already granted was withdrawn; that on applying to the major for the reason of the withdrawal he was told that it was his refusal to be inoculated, and that the order for withdrawal had been issued by the commandant; that, on being appealed to, the commandant told applicant that he should have no leave until every man in his squadron had had it, and not until no other man wanted leave; how long will he allow his repeated assurances that soldiers should not be deprived of leave for obeying the law to be set aside by individual officers; and whether he will take steps to protect soldiers in the exercise of their legal rights?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar question which he asked on the 10th June last.