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British Army

Volume 436: debated on Tuesday 22 April 1947

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Civil Prison, Singapore

38.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is yet able to give a reply regarding service personnel in the Outram Road Civil Prison, Singapore.

My hon. Friend should by now have received a letter dealing with this matter.

In view of the fact that this is a Question placed on the Order Paper, and that I am not the only one in the House interested in this matter, does not the Minister think that the answer should have been given to the House and not sent in a letter to myself?

I am quite prepared, if the House desires it, to read the letter out but I have answered the Question on the Order Paper.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to give notice that I will raise the matter again at the earliest possible moment.

Personnel, Egypt (Kit)

39.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will hold a full inquiry into the circumstances in which Forces personnel in Egypt have been issued with stockings, labelled a gift from the W.V.S., Hastings, as part of an Army issue and with underpants made of flour bags with buttons on, in view of the fact that orders have been given that from 1st April, 1947, they have to replace all kit; and if he will then issue a statement.

Can the Minister say whether there is anything unusual or unnecessary in pants having buttons?

I can only speak for myself. I believe that the custom varies amongst different people, but I think that that was not the only point of my hon. Friend's Question, which alludes to underpants made of flour bags.

Political Organisations, Eritrea

41.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, following the permission of his Department to the people of Eritrea to form political organisations, Eritrean districts opened Ethiopico-Eritrean Unity Associations offices at Keren, Massawa, Adi Caieh, Senafe, Saganeiti and Adi Ugri, that huge assemblies took part in these inaugurations, particularly in Adi Ugri where 100,000 people participated; and whether he will take particular steps to bring these demonstrations of Eritrean public opinion before the Council of Foreign Ministers.

I am aware of the activities of this association, but reports of these meetings appear to have greatly exaggerated the number of people who attended them. There are, in Eritrea several political parties and different views are held on the subject of union with Ethiopia. No special permission is required for the formation of political organisations in Eritrea, where freedom of speech and association are recognised, and political parties have existed throughout the period of Military Administration. It would not be feasible to lay before the Council of Foreign Ministers records of the views expressed at all the political meetings in Eritrea. Resolutions passed at them are in any case usually communicated by their organisers to each of the Foreign Ministers.

Land Mines, Norfolk (Removal)

42.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for the early removal of over 1,000 land mines still set in the cliffs between Mundesley and Sidestrand, Norfolk, pending which if he will enclose the whole area in which the mines are situated by an impenetrable fence.

Owing to the nature of the ground in which these mines were laid h would be highly dangerous to attempt to remove them. The area is fenced and danger notices are displayed. The local military authorities have been instructed to keep the fencing and notices under constant supervision and repair.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at an inquest on a man recently killed by a mine at the spot in question, it was stated that the cliffs between Mundesley and Sidestrand were bristling with sudden death, and will be give an assurance to those who want to spend a holiday there—and there are many people in the area who want to entertain them— that the entire coastline will be made safe?

I very much regret the death of the individual mentioned by my hon. Friend but I am afraid that to attempt to remove these mines which are laid in shifting soil would be highly dangerous to those who undertook that duty. I should be only too pleased to get them removed but I am afraid that I can do no more than guard the public as much as I can from them. I can hold out no hope of removing the mines.

Will the Minister resist the efforts which are being made in certain quarters to subject the Royal Engineers to quite unnecessary danger in removing mines which cannot be removed without danger to those Royal Engineers? Why should they risk their lives for the sake of holiday makers?

Is the Minister aware that a certain number of mines appear to have broken loose as a result of the action of the tides and that they are being found along other parts of the coast of Norfolk, and, while fully appreciating and sympathising with the point of view of the Royal Engineers, can my right hon. Friend give any help, because children are finding these mines quite regularly?

I do not think that there is so much danger from these mines breaking loose. If they do and we can tackle them, we will; but this particular area, I regret to say, must be fenced off from the public perhaps even permanently, because it is so highly dangerous to anybody who goes there, even including military personnel.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an answer to my question? There is considerable perturbation in some quarters that the Army are being asked, for the sake of holiday makers, to risk their lives, and will the Minister give an assurance that the land at these dangerous places will be fenced off?

I have a duty to the public, of course, but I shall certainly not risk unnecessarily the lives of soldiers.

Personal Case

43.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will review the sentence of 84 days' detention passed on 14538111 Lance-Corporal K. Stedman, of Depot Battalion, R.A.S.C., Thetford, in view of the facts that this soldier was due for demobilisation on 11th December, 1946, and had been under arrest for 14 weeks prior to the court martial

Lance-Corporal Stedman was kept in open arrest before trial. In view of the nature of the offence to which he pleaded guilty, the sentence was lenient. It was reviewed in the normal course on 16th April, and as a result of this review instructions have been given for his release from detention. He will also be released from the Army shortly.

Territorial Army (Recruitment)

44.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make arrangements for British subjects, who were detained in France during the war in concentration camps or otherwise, to be eligible for recruitment to the T.A.

There is no intention of debarring British subjects, who were detained in France during the war in concentration camps, or otherwise. from voluntarily joining the Territorial Army, provided they come within the prescribed age limits and medical categories and are otherwise eligible according to the general regulations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to make that information known? Only last week there was a case of an individual of that kind who was refused because he had not served with the British Forces during the war. He was anxious to join but he was refused because he had not served

I hope the hon and gallant Gentleman will bring that case to my personal attention. I will certainly investigate it.