HC Deb 18 July 1950 vol 477 cc2008-9
2. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary of State for War what are his future plans for the movements of the 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment.

Mr. Strachey

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Will the Secretary of State give an undertaking that boys under 19 who have been transferred recently from the North Staffordshire Regiment to the Worcesters and the South Staffordshire Regiment, will not be sent abroad unless they have at least the average training which they receive in other regiments?

Mr. Strachey

As I have already said, the rule is that they must not be sent to Malaya until they have four and a half months' training. If there is any question of an infraction of that rule I should naturally like to have particulars.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Can the Secretary of State inform the House when the change was brought about? During the passage of the National Service Act an undertaking was given, which. was carried out right throughout the war, under which no boy under 19 years of age would be sent abroad. Can he say when that was changed?

Mr. Strachey

Perhaps my hon. Friend would put down a Question on that point, which is a different one.