HC Deb 21 August 1945 vol 413 cc430-2
23. Mr. Touche

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by many Service voters in Burma owing to the widespread failure to deliver ballot papers in time for the General Election; and whether he has any statement to make on this failure.

Mr. Lawson

I have received no complaints from soldiers serving in Burma, nor is there any report of the special arrangements for the air transit out and home of the ballot papers having failed to work as arranged with Transport Command. It will be realised that the distances and difficult geographical conditions in the Far East, and also the fact that the troops in Burma were engaged in active operations, increased the risks of delay and failure more in S.E.A.C. than in any other theatre.

Mr. Touche

Could my right hon. Friend give me any idea what percentage of the Forces in Burma received a ballot paper?

Mr. Lawson

I am sorry I cannot, but I think the House will appreciate that, in common with the rest of the House, I was a victim in this matter.

25. Mr. Touche

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many units serving in Burma have not yet received application forms for houses; and whether he can make a statement on the subject.

Mr. Lawson

These forms are not issued in bulk by the War Office. The Army Council Instruction on the subject, which contained a specimen form, made it clear that they should be typed or otherwise reproduced locally, for issue under unit arrangements. The method of obtaining the form was also published separately as "Notice Board Information." No difficulty should therefore arise.

Mr. Touche

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many units in Burma have not got this form at all, and are naturally getting very anxious about it?

Mr. Lawson

I have here the notice-board information, which seems to me to be well laid-out and very simple. It may be of interest to the hon. Member as well as to Members generally to see that one paragraph makes it quite clear that, if a soldier wishes to apply for housing accommodation which the council may be able to provide, he can obtain from his C.O. a housing application form and send it to the clerk of the council of the place where he lived on joining up, or if he has been offered employment elsewhere, of the place in which he will be working.

Mr. De la Bère

The idea is all right, but it does not work in practice.

Mr. Lawson

If there is any particular case in which it does not work in practice, I will, if I am informed, take steps to deal with the matter.