HC Deb 24 October 1950 vol 478 cc2689-90
31. General Sir George Jeffreys

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet considered any scheme for the raising in East and West Africa of divisions for general service; and, if so, whether he will proceed to give effect to such a scheme.

Mr. M. Stewart

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence on 14th September.

Sir G. Jeffreys

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in that statement nothing definite was said by his right hon. Friend? Is it not a fact that African troops rendered excellent service in the late war and would not such troops be valuable successors to the Indian Army? Also, would not the education, training and discipline they would get in the Army be very valuable to these troops?

Mr. Stewart

The hon. and gallant Member has made a comparison with the Indian Army, but he will appreciate that these territories have neither the population nor the resources of India, and that what he has in mind—and I do not dispute its general desirability—is a much more difficult problem.

Sir Ralph Glyn

Can the hon. Gentleman give the House the assurance that this question of raising divisions will be reconsidered and the question of raising units will be gone into in great detail?

Mr. Stewart

If the hon. Member will consult what the Minister of Defence said, he will see that the door was by no means closed.

Sir Richard Acland

Will the Minister take careful steps to ascertain African local opinion on this question before any steps are taken, as it might have most serious repercussions if we did not find out the views of the people concerned?

Mr. Stewart

That consideration will certainly be taken into account along with a great many others.

Brigadier Head

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans), who has just returned from there, has informed me that they all said that sufficient volunteers to double the existing force could easily be made available provided officers were there; and in view of the shortage of man-power, is it not worth exploring this matter further?

Mr. Nally

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that, whatever views he considers about any matters in Africa, or indeed the Middle or Far East, he certainly will not in any consideration take into account the views of the hon. Member for Hornsey?