HC Deb 14 November 1945 vol 415 cc2090-1
4. Colonel Erroll

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will give urgent consideration to the improvement of living conditions for R.A.F. ground staff at airfields in Europe and overseas.

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. John Strachey)

We are going to improve on the wartime living conditions for Royal Air Force ground staff. I have received better reports of the places which the hon. and gallant Member was good enough to mention to me. For instance, the men are no longer under canvas at Buckeburg.

Colonel Erroll

Is it not a fact that this is causing so much disgruntlement in the R.A.F. that the men are in no mood to improve their own conditions?

Mr. Strachey

The difficulty about improving conditions is that it usually entails building trade labour, and one is not popular if one retains that in the Services at the moment.

Mr. Driberg

Since this Question refers to overseas generally, could my hon. Friend say if there has been any improvement in the deplorable conditions in which the airmen are living at Mauripur—the very important airfield of Karachi?

Mr. Strachey

As my hon. Friend knows, I have that matter under very active consideration at the moment.

28 and 16. Mr. Thurtle

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is now in a position to make his promised statement regarding living conditions of Air Force personnel at Singapore;

(2) what complaints he has received regarding the conditions under which airmen are obliged to live in Singapore; and what action he has taken to improve these.

Mr. Strachey

When Japan collapsed forces destined for Okinawa and elsewhere had to be diverted to Singapore at very short notice. In addition, 20,000 more prisoners of war than were expected were recovered there and had to be accommodated and fed. Consequently, living conditions were unavoidably difficult at first. Some overcrowding and discomfort is moreover bound to continue at Singapore until the repatriation of prisoners has been completed and our Forces have had time to get properly settled in, and until we can bring some of them home.

Mr. Thurtle

Will my hon. Friend take the most energetic steps to see that these conditions are improved?

Mr. Strachey

I entirely agree with the hon. Member, and very energetic steps are being taken, I can assure him.