HC Deb 16 December 1946 vol 431 cc1590-1
30. Mr. Francis Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total number of Poles now in this country; how many of these are still in uniform; and when he expects the remaining Polish military units and headquarters here to be dispersed.

Mr. Mayhew

The total number of Poles, civil and military, in this country is, to the nearest thousand, and including both sexes, 168,000. Of these, 141,000 are still in uniform, but this figure includes those awaiting repatriation as well as those enlisted in the Polish Resettlement Corps who cannot yet for administrative reasons receive civilian clothes. Such Poles are. of course, unarmed and have been demobilised from the Polish armed forces under British command. The remaining Polish military units and headquarters in this country will be dispersed as soon as enlistment into the Polish Resettlement Corps is complete. It is the policy of His Majesty's Government to complete demobilisation of the Polish armed forces as soon as possible.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that not only is there great interest in this country about the presence of these uniformed Poles, but their existence here, and particularly that of the Polish Military Unit, is giving rise to grave misunderstanding in Poland and other parts of Europe?

Mr. Mayhew

We are proceeding with demobilisation as quickly as we can.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Is my hon. Friend in a position to say how many Poles there are in Scotland?

Mr. Mayhew

Not without notice

Air-Commodore Harvey

May I ask the hon. Member if satisfactory arrangements are being made to reclothe these soldiers in civilian clothes?

Mr. Mayhew

Yes, certainly. Those being repatriated are not given civilian clothes.