§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Secretary of State for war if he is aware that many married N.C.O.s and men stationed in the Middle East and who are qualified for a pension are seriously considering forgoing these pension rights in order to see their families; and if their L.I.A.P. and end-of-the-war leave can be speeded up in order to prevent this sacrifice.
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§ Mr. LawsonIt is anticipated that in the near future all men in M.E.F. with over 18 months' overseas service will have received L.I.A.P. excepting those who are within six months of the date they become due for release or Python. End-of-the-war leave can be added to L.I.A.P. Every effort is being made to increase the number of officers and other ranks returning to the United Kingdom monthly on L.I.A.P. from M.E.F. in order to assist this Command to reach the target of 18 months. Unless there are some urgent compassionate reasons it would not be possible to give preferential treatment in this matter to the particular class of Regular soldiers to whom the hon. and gallant Member refers.