HC Deb 28 February 1940 vol 357 cc2101-2W
Mr. Thurtle

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers and men of the Army are entitled to one week's leave after each three months' service; and whether, in cases in which the exigencies of the service make it impossible for such leave to be granted to a soldier at the end of this period, the leave so earned can he granted at a later period and added to any further leave which the soldier may have earned by reason of service?

Sir V. Warrender

Leave is a privilege and not an entitlement, but it is the intention that, subject to military exigencies, officers and men in France should have a period of 10 days' leave in the United Kingdom every six months and that those at home should have either a period of 14 days' leave every six months or a period of seven days' leave every three months. In addition, those at home have opportunities for week-end leave. In view of the difficulties involved, it would be impracticable to permit the accumulation of leave.