§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a number of officers and rankers who volunteered for war service and paid their own expenses from South America to this country, and who are now forced to accept return passages in overcrowded ships; and if he will ensure that the conditions under which they return are improved.
§ Mr. de FreitasPassengers, whether in troopships under War Office direction, or48W in civil shipping controlled by the Ministry of Transport, are accommodated in the best conditions which the limitations of shipping space permit. In the particular case to which the hon. Member is referring, the cabin accommodation available was allotted to women and children, and men were, therefore, allotted troop-deck accommodation, which could in no sense be regarded as overcrowded. I regret it was not possible to provide them with first-class messing accommodation since this was limited to the numbers occupying cabins. So long as there is a shortage of shipping, I am afraid that we cannot avoid some difficulties of this kind, and we have explained the position to members of the Royal Air Force in our Release Regulations. I understand that on this occasion the Repatriation Office advised all officers and other ranks on 19th July of the conditions tinder which they would be sailing.