§ 22. Mr. Turtonasked the Secretary of State for India when he expects to receive the Report of the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on welfare conditions in India and Burma; and what arrangements he is making to enable the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department to give continuous co-operation and consultation in the improvement of those welfare conditions.
§ Mr. AmeryI expect that my Noble Friend will return to this country about the end of this month and will report to me very shortly thereafter. By permission of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department I shall consult him as and when necessary in following up the recommendations which he makes.
§ Mr. TurtonArising out of the second part of the reply, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance to this House that the one Minister who has now firsthand knowledge of the conditions in South East Asia should continue to work out with him a policy for the improvement of the welfare of the troops in that Command?
§ Mr. AmeryMy Noble Friend will certainly report to me fully, and will be in the closest touch with me in the implementing of his recommendations.
§ Mr. BuchananIn view of the very great importance of this matter—it is much more important than some people think—could the right hon. Gentleman see that the report is made available to the House, and also state what action he proposes to take? Will he at least make that information available to the House at the earliest possible moment so that we may know not merely what is in the report, but what steps will be taken to improve conditions?
§ Mr. AmeryI have already said that I must consider the question of the publication of my Noble Friend's report when I have received it, but in any case the fullest information will be given to the House of the action which is being taken, or which it is proposed to take.
Mr. AstorIs my right hon. Friend aware how much Members who have taken an interest in this matter regret Lord Munster's transference from the India Office after the experience he has gained there; and will my right hon. Friend see if there is some way in which his services and experience cannot be made available to the India Office?