§ Sir G. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the policy of refusing to recommend the granting of leave on the ground of business hardship to men serving overseas, especially in the case of small businesses; and whether he is aware that if the present policy is continued it will result in the ruin of many businesses owned by men serving overseas.
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§ Sir J. GriggLeave or temporary release for business purposes could hitherto only be granted in very exceptional cases, and then only if the maintenance of a business was threatened which was essential in the national interest or if there were in the case other extremely compassionate factors not of a purely business nature. In such cases men abroad were first posted to the Home Establishment at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief concerned. Whether in course of time some relaxation will become possible in the conditions governing such cases I cannot yet say. But it must be borne in mind that if any appreciable extra numbers are released in this way it can only mean the retention in the Army of men who would otherwise be released under the Release Scheme.