HC Deb 09 April 1946 vol 421 cc290-1W
87. Mr. Dumpleton

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the numbers of men passing through base depot and training centre, M.E.F., have progressively decreased since July, 1945, from an average daily strength of 5,000 to 1,500; that at the same time the number of officers has progressively increased; and whether he will take steps to review and revise the present policy of wholesale deferment of R.A.S.C. officers in M.E.F.

Mr. Bellenģer:

I am making inquiries into the point raised in the first two parts of the Question and as soon as they are completed I will write to my hon. Friend. As regards the last part of the Question I would refer him to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to several hon. Members on Tuesday last.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers of the Royal Signals serving in M.E.F. whose release has been deferred; and whether the sole criterion applied to the question of deferment has been the irreplaceability of the officer concerned.

Mr. Lawson:

Twenty-one officers of the Royal Corps of Signals in Group 26 serving in M.E.F. will probably have to be retained as operationally vital after the release date for their Group. Each case is considered individually and an officer is only retained beyond his release date if he cannot be replaced.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Secretary of State for War why all officers of 13 Corps Signals, C.M.F., in Group 26 and above have been informed that their releases will be deferred, as such action is contrary to announced Government policy.

Mr. Lawson:

Officers of 13 Corps Signals in Group 26 were warned that their release might have to be deferred. In fact it is found that it will not be necessary to retain all of them and it may not be necessary to retain any of them.

Captain C. Smith

asked the Secretary of State for War the prospects of officers in units in B.A.O.R. in Groups 26, 27 and 28, respectively, being retained beyond the announced release date for their group on the ground that they are deemed operationally vital.

Mr. Lawson:

It is not possible to predict with any precision the extent to which the Commander -in-Chief, B.A.O.R., may have to defer compulsorily the release of officers in Groups 26, 27 and 28, but I have every reason to suppose that the majority of these officers will be released in the periods allotted to their groups.