Ats (Discharged Personnel, Clothing Coupons)
66.
asked the Secretary or State for War whether, in view of the fact that the present grant of 3os. to discharged members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service to purchase civilian clothing is inadequate, he will take steps to increase the grant?
This matter is already under active consideration.
Is it under sympathetic consideration?
Instructional Courses (Ration Allowance)
67.
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men on instructional courses within short distances of their homes are permitted to be billeted at home at nights and week-ends but receive no rationing allowances for these periods; and will he make arrangements to meet the difficulty resulting from this arrangement?
No, Sir. I am nor aware of any such complaints. Men attending courses of instruction normally have their meals supplied for them in mess whether they are accommodated in War Department buildings or in billets. They are not then entitled to any ration allowance unless they go on leave for over 24 hours. If in exceptional cases no mess is provided for them to have their meals in and they have to have their meals in billets the householder is paid the normal allowance for the provision of meals in billets. If my hon. Friend will send me details of the cases to which he refers I will have them examined.
Repatriated Prisoners Of War
68.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether all prisoners of war who are to be repatriated are, in accordance with Article 68 of the International Convention, to consist of all prisoners of war who are seriously ill or seriously wounded, without regard to rank or numbers, after being rendered fit for transport; and what action he intends taking about the matter?
As was stated on 11th May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in reply to a similar Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) those who are being repatriated consist, first, of seriously ill and seriously wounded, and secondly, of chaplains, doctors, medical orderlies and others exclusively concerned with the care of sick and wounded. The repatriation of the first group is provided for in the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War; that of the second in the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field.