§ 21. Major Wilkesasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider recruiting for permanent service in the peacetime Army, coloured colonial personnel in the United Kingdom and within the Empire who may wish to join; whether those coloured soldiers already in the Service will be allowed to continue on a regular engagement; whether the relaxation during wartime of King's Regulations to allow Africans to hold the King's Commission will be continued in the future; and whether he will amend A.C.I. 1435 of 1942, para. 5 (B), which constitutes a colour bar on entry into the Service.
§ Mr. LawsonI am discussing this matter with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
§ Major WilkesWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the relaxation of King's Regulations to allow Africans to hold the King's Commission during the war has worked extremely well? Will he also bear in mind that the Royal Air Force have indicated that they will take coloured personnel on terms of complete equality for the peacetime R.A.F.?
§ Mr. LawsonI know there is considerable feeling on this question, but I think it should be discussed before any decision is taken.