§ 43. Mr. Royleasked the Secretary of State for War if he is now able to shorten the period of repatriation from three years and two months for men serving outside the European sphere.
§ Mr. BellengerIt has now been found possible to reduce to three Years the Python qualifying period in all overseas theatres in which the overseas tour was in excess of this period. This new reduction, which became effective on 1st January, 1947, achieves our aim, which has already been announced in the House on several occasions, of introducing a world wide Python tour of three years. I would point out that the three-year Python tour represents the shortest period which can be attained and it is not our intention to make any further reduction. The new reduction is being phased over a period of about three months, which will vary slightly between Commands.