HC Deb 04 June 1946 vol 423 cc302-3W
Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for War how many compassionate posting committees are functioning in overseas commands; what personnel, specified by rank, serve on them; to what extent such personnel is thereby relieved from other duties; and how frequently each committee meets.

Mr. Lawson

There are compassionate posting committees in B.A.O.R., C.M.F., M.E.F., India, A.L.F.S.E.A., East Africa, Malta and Gibraltar. Their composition is entirely at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief but I understand that in all major commands the president is a lieutenant-colonel and that in all cases the committees are composed both of officers and other ranks. I have no detailed information as to the extent to which members of these committees are relieved from other duties nor how frequently each committee meets. This will clearly depend on the number of cases to be dealt with in the particular command concerned.