§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that some men have been in Egypt and Palestine since the early months of 1915; and whether arrangements can be made for giving such men furlough?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs I stated in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn on Tuesday last, a certain number of troops are granted leave to this country from Egypt as opportunity occurs, but leave from such parts is necessarily restricted as the accommodation available depends upon the shipping situation. I can assure my hon. Friend that every consideration possible in the circumstances is given to those men who have been longest without leave.
§ Sir WILLIAM COLLINSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men of the Army Service Corps who have been with the Colours for three years in Salonika and have re- 64W peatedly applied for leave have hitherto been refused, and that men of the Royal Army Medical Corps have served in France for eighteen months without leave; and whether he is now in a position to state that leave will be granted to those who have thus served?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs regards leave from Salonika, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford South; and as regards leave from France, to my reply to questions by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Blackpool and my right hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs on Wednesday last. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of these replies.