§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will represent to the Commander-in-Chief in France that the men of No. 2 Labour Company, Middlesex Regiment, though for fourteen months continuously at work in France, have not had any leave as promised to them repeatedly, and that this causes anxiety and distress to both the men and their relatives at home?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy hon. Friend will realise that the recent fighting has 1591W necessitated the curtailment, to a very great extent of the facilities for granting leave to the troops in France. It is not possible to say when the military exigencies will permit of a resumption of this privilege, but I am sure that when the time does come the Commander-in-Chief will give every consideration to the cases of those soldiers whose leave has been necessarily postponed.