§ Lieutenant-Colonel SPENDER CLAYasked the Secretary of State for War whether officers and other ranks of the Army of Occupation in Egypt and Palestine are granted leave to the United Kingdom at regular intervals; and what is the average period during which officers and other ranks have been without such leave?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is hoped that officers and other ranks of the Army of Occupation in Egypt and Palestine will be granted leave for exactly the same period as is being granted to officers and other ranks of the Army of Occupation in Germany,i.e.,twenty-eight days in the United Kingdom every year. At the present time, however, owing to lack of transport, and the amount of accommodation on these transports which is necessarily required for demobilisation, it is not possible to grant them leave in every case. I regret that I am unable to state the average period during which officers and other ranks have been in Egypt or Palestine without leave, and this could only be ascertained by reference to the Commander-in-Chief.