§ 63. Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for War to take measures to speedup the payment of National Service grants to reservists called-up for the Suez crisis.
§ 68. Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for War to take measures to increase the total amount of National Service grants to reservists called up for the Suez crisis, so that their liabilities for hire purchase, insurance and house mortgages, etc., can be properly met.
§ Mr. HareThese grants are a supplement designed to enable reservists to meet inescapable commitments such as those to which the hon. Member refers, and the evidence available to me indicates that they are adequate for this purpose.
§ 70. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for War how many reservists called up under the Suez Emergency Regulations have been granted seven days' leave following the announcement of 5th October ; what are the plans for the immediate future in this respect ; and what compensatory factors have been introduced or are contemplated for those reservists who are stationed too far away to be granted seven days' leave at their homes.
§ Mr. HareAbout 90 per cent. of recalled reservists who are stationed in this country and Germany have already been granted this leave. The balance will be sent home on leave as soon as possible. They are men who for personal reasons asked for their leave to be deferred, or specialists or others whose leave has to be spread over a period so as not to impair our state of readiness. I am considering what can be done for reservists in the Middle East.
§ 71. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for War why reservists stationed in Britain, who have been inoculated and 17W issued with kit, are not allowed to remain at home for a longer period than the seven days stipulated in the announcement of 5th October.
§ Mr. HareWe cannot grant extended leave to all recalled reservists and maintain the state of operational readiness which is still necessary.