§ 100 and 101. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will make a statement on camp conditions in S.E.A.C. and the steps being taken to improve them;
(2) if he will consider the dispatch of a Parliamentary delegation to South-East Asia and India Commands in order that hon. Members may see for themselves the present conditions of service overseas.
§ Mr. BellengerAt the end of the Japanese war the accommodation position was extremely serious, especially in Burma and Malaya. The numbers of troops were vastly in excess of the accommodation possibilities, and new plans had to be made based on the expected garrisons to be provided on the "run-down" of forces. These plans involved very considerable expenditure to provide even semi-permanent accommodation, and completion is dependent upon labour and materials together with the necessary supervisory staff—all of which are in short supply.
The situation is being improved as rapidly as the circumstances allow and I hope that the present programme will be completed by the middle of next year. While I should have no objection to the visit of a Parliamentary delegation to South-East Asia, I do not think that it could assist in accelerating the process. As hon. Members are aware, the responsibility for the provision of accommodation in India rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India.