§ Lieut.-Colonel Price-Whiteasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men of certain Army formations, as the result of being moved from C.M.F. to B.L.A. shortly before the victory in Europe, lost C.M.F. home leave of 28 days, and became entitled to nine days' B.L.A. leave only; that the majority of these men served throughout operations in the C.M.F. from their outset and, in many cases, throughout most of the African campaign before that; and if, in view of the dissatisfaction among the men concerned, he will take steps to ensure an equitable adjustment of the period of leave in all such cases.
§ Mr. LawsonWhen these men were transferred to the B.L.A. it was necessary to provide for their leave under the B.L.A. scheme, which gives shorter periods of leave at more frequent intervals than in the C.M.F. In the aggregate, there is little difference between the amount of leave admissible under the two schemes. These particular men had an advantage, however, in that they were given at the outset a special allotment in the B.L.A. over and above that of the rest of the troops, and at approximately double the rate. The leave scale of the B.L.A. is now 11 days in this country, including travelling time.
§ Mr. Bartlettasked the Secretary of State for War what steps he proposes to take to give men in the C.M.F. facilities for leave approximating to those now in practice in the B.L.A.
§ Mr. LawsonIt is the policy to provide approximately equivalent facilities for leave to all troops in both these theatres. But availability of transport and time spent in travel are factors to be taken into account, and the two leave schemes cannot be identical. In general, the personnel from C.M.F. will receive longer periods of leave at less frequent intervals, though the aim is that they shall receive not less leave in the aggregate than troops in the B.L.A.