§ Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that certain B.L.A. units, of which he has been informed, are concerned at the slow operation of the privilege-leave scheme and that leave vacancies are not being allocated fairly between the units entitled to them; and whether he has any statement to make.
§ Sir J. GriggI have read the letters my hon. Friend sent me in connection with this Question. In units which landed in Normandy on D Day or shortly afterwards most of the officers and men are eligible for leave, but they clearly cannot all go on leave at the same time. In units where most of the men have not been overseas for long, the few men who have, normally get leave first, and may in some cases get leave earlier than individuals of longer overseas service in other units whose leave quota, which is limited by operational considerations only allows of a limited number being on leave at the same time. The difference between the leave priority as between individuals in different units is, therefore, inevitable. This is on the whole well understood in units near the front, but it does not seem to be so well understood in some rearward units.