§ Sir G. Foxasked the Secretary of State for War why medical officers in Groups 43 and 44 in M.E.F. have suddenly been informed that their demobilisation is deferred indefinitely; for what reasons these orders have been given; and at what level the decision was taken.
146W
§ Mr. LawsonOwing to the high proportion of those in earlier release groups who were serving in the Middle East, the release of medical officers in that theatre has presented difficulties. Every effort has been made to meet the situation by transfers from other theatres, but the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, has nevertheless found it necessary to defer the release of some medical officers in Groups 43 and 44. On 15th May the release of 21 medical officers in these two groups had been temporarily deferred. All these deferments will be confined to the shortest possible periods, and I hope that it will be possible to return 18 of the officers concerned to this country for release very shortly.