asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Koreans on trial in Singapore and elsewhere for their actions during the Malayan occupation are forced to have Japanese defenders and are not allowed to be defended by Koreans.

I regret that it is not possible to reply fully to the hon. Member today on this matter, on which I am in consultation with the Secretary of State for War; but a reply will be communicated to him as soon as possible.

Can the Secretary of State assure us that in the meantime no Koreans will be tried and defended by Japanese?

The evidence we have to date is that that is not the case, but I am not quite satisfied that I have all the necessary information and I would prefer to delay the matter until it is in my possession.

I was asking the right hon. Gentleman to assure the House that no Korean who will be tried will be defended by a Japanese until a decision has been reached.

I will make that representation to the Secretary of State for War.