HC Deb 18 July 1944 vol 402 cc42-3W
Sir C. Edwards

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a soldier of whose name he has been informed has been sent overseas again although he has been out of this country for over four years, two of which he was a prisoner of war; whether it is usual to send a man to the front in cases such as this; and what is the position of these men if taken prisoner again.

Sir J. Grigg

This man was a prisoner in Italy who rejoined the Allied Forces after the Italian armistice. I have no reason to believe that he was not retained in this country for the usual period of six months before being sent overseas again in accordance with the policy which I out-lied in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Clay Cross (Mr. Neal) on 24th May. The answer to the third part of the Question is that the man is in no way prejudiced by reason of the fact that he has previously been taken prisoner.