27. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for War on how many occasions between the commencement of the Korean campaign and 1st April, 1951, our troops enjoyed 98 oz. of fresh or frozen American meat per week.
§ Mr. StracheyI have called for this information and will write to the hon. and gallant Member.
Brigadier ClarkeDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that he thoroughly misled the House when he said that our soldiers are receiving 98 oz. of meat, when he does not even know whether they have had it once? Have they had it once, twice or 10 times?
§ Mr. StracheyWe must get the information from Korea, as the hon. and gallant Member must realise, to say on how many occasions they have had it.
Brigadier ClarkeIs it not most important that the soldier who is fighting should have sufficient meat? If the right hon. Gentleman cannot provide it in this country, it is his job to see that the Americans provide it.
29. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the provision of American fresh meat for our troops in Korea is paid for by the Exchequer; and what is the cost per ton.
§ Mr. StracheySo far, no bills have been received in respect of goods or services provided by the United States forces to the British Army in Korea.
Brigadier ClarkeDoes the right hon. Gentleman imagine that he will pay less per ton for this meat than the price at which the Minister of Food has managed to buy meat from the Argentine?
§ 32. Miss Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can out line his policy for the replacement of troops fighting in Korea; how long, for instance, troops so posted are retained there; and whether they are to be brought back to the United Kingdom when relieved.
§ Mr. StracheyI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Stroud and Thornbury (Mr. Perkins) on 10th April.
§ Miss WardCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers will be coming home?
§ Mr. StracheyNot without notice.
§ 33. Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for War why his policy of last July, which was not to post National Service men to Korea excepting under exceptional circumstances, has been changed.
§ Mr. StracheyThe policy which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence announced on 27th July, 1950, was that no soldier under 19 years of age would be sent to Korea. At that time the period of whole-time National Service was 18 months and it would have been impracticable to send National Service men to Korea since they would have been able to serve there for only a few months. My right hon. Friend therefore explained that this decision meant that no National Service men would be sent to Korea except in very exceptional circumstances, and in order to raise 29th Infantry Brigade Group to establishment a number of Regular reservists were recalled. As from 1st October last the period of National Service was extended to two 1649 years, and it thus became practicable to use National Service men for service in Korea. It has not been possible to find all the reinforcements necessary to maintain our forces in Korea from serving Regular soldiers and it has been decided that the balance should be found from National Service men rather than by recalling further Regular reservists. National Service men are drafted to Korea only after they have attained 19 years of age and completed adequate training.
§ Miss WardWould it not have been wiser to have made a statement of that kind earlier? Am I right in assuming now that men in the National Service groups have not got to volunteer for Korea, but that they are called up as and when the War Office decides and dispatched to Korea? In future, will the right hon. Gentleman keep the House fully informed as to changes of plans after pledges have been given?
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir. There have been no changes of plan, and National Service men have been fighting in Korea with the 27th Brigade, for example, since early last autumn. This has been announced in the House and discussed by the House on many occasions.