Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 25 Mawrth 1947.
Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper
, Middlesbrough West
12:00,
25 Mawrth 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War the length of the tour overseas which is served by our Forces stationed in Japan.
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
Non-Regular soldiers are still serving under Python rules, which make them eligible for repatriation after three years. The postwar overseas tour for Regular Army personnel is now three to three-and-a-half years. This period may be served in more than one overseas station, and not necessarily exclusively in Japan.
Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper
, Middlesbrough West
Is my right hon. Friend aware of the disparity between the British Forces and the Dominion Forces, who serve alongside of them? Will he give the matter further consideration to see if anything can be done to make their position similar?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
I do not think the conditions are similar as between the British Forces and the Dominion Forces, but I can hold out no hope of a reduction in this period at the moment.
Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper
, Middlesbrough West
Does it not seem rather unfair to our men, who see the Dominion Forces going home in two years' time instead of three?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
