§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the Army Council has given directions concerning the intervals at which leave should be granted to soldiers belonging to different arms of the Service operating in France and Belgium, subject to the approval of the officer commanding in each individual instance; if so, what are the respective intervals between leave for each arm of the Service; if he is aware that there are men belonging to the 2nd Northern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, stationed at Bayonne, France, who have had no leave since October, 1916; and whether this interval is in accordance with Army Council directions in regard to this matter if such directions have, in fact, been given?
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§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 19th October last to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leeds. I would add that the granting of leave is entirely within the discretion of the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief.