§ Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any differentiation is shown in granting leave to ratings of the Mediterranean Fleet as between Spanish ports controlled by the Government of Spain and those controlled by General Franco?
Mr. CooperThe ports affected are Palma, Valencia and Barcelona, as His1232W Majesty's ships do not normally visit other Spanish ports for sufficiently long periods for leave to be given. No differentiation is made between these ports in principle, but in practice the grant of leave at Palma has proved more convenient because owing to the size and position of the town it is practicable to recall men to their ships at very short notice.
With regard to Barcelona, permission has recently been asked of the Spanish Government to land bathing parties on the beach at Caldetas. An additional consideration in the case of both Barcelona and Valencia is the constant danger of air raids.