§ 38. Brigadier Mackesonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the comparative strengths of military Forces shown on page 116 of Command Paper 7167 for 1st May, 1945, compare with similar figures for 1st May, 1946, and 1947; how the decrease, expressed in percentage, compares with similar decreases in United Kingdom Forces; and, if the dates concerned are inconvenient, if he will make a statement comparing any convenient dates in 1945 and 1946 with the same date in 1947.
Mr. Creech JonesI regret that for the reasons explained by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence in his statement in the House on 20th March, it would not be in the public interest to give this information.