§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Secretary of State for War why, having regard to category 10 of annex III to his announcement of 7th November, the Director of Personal Services informed an applicant at Sutton Coldfield by letter, dated 14th November, under reference OR/1186/ 40, (A.G.4a), that a soldier cannot be reverted to the Home Establishment for business reasons.
§ Sir J. GriggThe case referred to by my hon. Friend concerned a man serving overseas whose father-in-law was ill. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Commander-in-Chief concerned has discretion to revert men to the Home Establishment. It is as a rule impossible to consider a man for home posting on compassionate grounds on account of the illness of his parents-in-law. As regards the business aspect of these compassionate cases, the annex to which my hon. Friend refers indicates how these cases are dealt with. I am sorry if the letter to which my hon. Friend refers gave a misleading impression of the arrangements governing these cases.