§ Colonel Sir R. BAKERasked the Undersecretary of State for War if arrangements can be made that all men who have served in the East for over three years consecutively may be granted a period of leave to the United Kingdom on the grounds of their long period abroad and apart from other reasons?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have frequently explained_ in answers to questions and also in Debates in this House the very great difficulties in the way of granting leave to troops serving in the Eastern theatres of war. In particular, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which I made during the Debate on the Army Estimates on the 20th February last and also to the answers which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friends the Members for Torquay and South Somerset on the 27th February and 5th March respectively, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Roxburghshire on Thursday and Monday last.
§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will make representations to the Commanding Officer concerned in favour of a home leave being granted to a soldier who enlisted in the Mechanical Transport Department in August, 1916, was sent to France in February, 1917, was transferred to the Infantry, not at his own request, in August, 1917, was sent straight from hospital to Italy on 20th December, 1917, and has had no leave since he joined, although it is understood that all the other men of the column to which he belongs have had leave?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have frequently explained that leave for all ranks is a matter for the general officer commanding, and I regret that I cannot intervene in a particular case such as this. I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that the question of leave constantly receives the sympathetic consideration of the general officer commanding, but I must remind him that it is dependent on the military exigencies at the moment and the availability of transport.