HC Deb 02 August 1961 vol 645 cc190-1W
88. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for War why 2296775 Corporal David Windsor, Royal Army Service Corps, now in Germany, was refused compassionate leave to visit his dying son in Malta, in view of the fact that Army Headquarters in Malta had recommended a class A priority.

Mr. Profumo

Corporal Windsor was not refused compassionate leave; but because he was domiciled abroad his case had to be specially considered. Nonetheless to avoid delay his leave was authorised at once. He arrived home in Malta within 48 hours of being summoned.

89. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 2296775 Corporal David Windsor, Royal Army Service Corps, had to pay £35 expenses to go from Germany to visit his dying son who died two days after the father's arrival; and if he will take steps to reimburse this soldier for his loss.

Mr. Profumo

In compassionate cases of this sort a soldier is entitled to a free passage to the United Kingdom. Although Corporal Windsor lives in Malta he is of course only entitled to the normal concession. The quickest way to reach his home was found to be via London. That part of the journey was free. The £35 he paid was the cost of the fare on to Malta. I regret he is not entitled to a refund of this cost.

Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for War, having regard to the fact that 2296775 Corporal D. Windsor, an Englishman resident in Malta, on a British engagement with a British income tax code number, was not entitled to compassionate leave because he came from Malta, if he will take steps

1st April, 1959 1st April, 1961 (a)
— H.Q. Out-stations Total H.Q. Out-stations Total
Personal Assistants … 104 31 135 152 100 252
Shorthand Typists … 106 669 775 112 760 872
Machine Operators (b) … 92 831 923 109 1,032 1,141
NOTES:
(a) The 1961 figures include staff transferred from the ex-Ministry of Supply since April, 1959, and are therefore not directly comparable with those figures.
(b) These figures comprise staff designated as Machine Operators and assistants (including Chief and Senior grades of Operators) who are employed full-time on accounting, punched card and calculating machines. Staff not classified as Machine Operators, e.g., those using duplicating, photoprinting machines and the like are not included; nor are industrial machine operators.