Sir A. Evansasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that under G.H.Q., M.E.F. Order No. 43698 (AGI (c)) of 7th December, 1944, serving wives belonging to the A.T.S., W.A.A.F. and Q.A.I.M.N.S. are allowed to accompany their serving husbands, or shortly follow them, when they are compulsorily repatriated to England; whether this order has been extended to cover personnel of the W.R.N.S.; and if he will take prompt steps to deal with the case of the lieutenant-colonel, Royal Signals, and his W.R.N.S. wife which has been brought to his notice.
Mr. AlexanderOn the first part of the Question, I would refer to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for South Portsmouth (Sir J. Lucas) on 24th January, to which I have nothing to add. On the individual case referred to in the2088W second part of the Question the facts brought to my notice do not constitute sufficiently strong compassionate grounds to justify exceptional treatment.
§ Mr. G. Hutchinsonasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended to re-open voluntary recruiting for the W.R.N.S. in the immediate future.
Mr. AlexanderVoluntary recruitment for the W.R.N.S. was re-opened in January, 1944, for women between the ages of 17½ and 19, and was extended on 1st January this year to include women over 19. There is, however, only a limited number of vacancies.