§ Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War why the Leave Manual, paragraph 6, excludes return from privilege leave on Sundays, where 48 hours short pass has been added, whereas A.C.I. 1954, 1942, permits return in such cases on any day of the week?
§ Sir J. GriggIt was necessary during the winter months to take special measures to cut down travel, particularly long distance travel. One of these measures was the prohibition of travel at cheap rates to soldiers on short pass except to destinations within 50 miles of their station. The number of soldiers travelling at week-ends was reduced in this way, and the railways were able to take the reduced traffic on Sundays. It was therefore possible to remove the restriction on Sunday travel to which the hon. Member refers. In April the above prohibition was removed and Army Council Instruction 1954 of 1942 was cancelled. It was then necessary to reintroduce the restriction on travel on Sundays. Soldiers are still encouraged to add their leave on short pass to their privilege leave and I am not aware that the present rule about travel on Sundays has led to complaints.