§ Mr. E. Walkdenasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men who have served in the C.M.F., India and S.E.A.C. for periods of 3½ years or more are critical of the numbers of allocations of home leave places as announced in the scheme of 7th December last; and, as the chances of leave in some units are very small, whether he will again review and increase the leave places under both the Python and special leave schemes so as to ensure a more favourable opportunity of leave or repatriation for all men who have served abroad for 3½ years or more.
§ Mr. A. HendersonI have every sympathy with my hon. Friend in this matter, but in general the present position is as set out in the statement my right hon. Friend made on 26th September and in the Prime Minister's announcement of 17th November, which introduced the leave scheme, and I regret I cannot add anything to those statements.