§ 5. Mr. Thomas Reidasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ask colonial governments which have not local military forces adequate for the prevention of serious local disorder where police forces are not sufficient for the purpose, to recruit, organise and equip such forces locally, thus reducing the demands on British Forces.
Mr. DugdaleMost colonial governments have either police forces or military forces, or both, considered adequate to prevent serious local disorder; and the 1798 scale of local military forces existing in the Colonies is based on that factor. Where deficiencies are known to exist, His Majesty's Government are considering, in consultation with the colonial governments concerned, what means should best be adopted to repair them.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIn view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said, will he assure the House that the Government are busily examining the question of Grenada where there was a recent rebellion which troops of this kind might well have prevented?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn connection with the safety of other West Indian Colonies, will the question of the reformation of the West Indian Regiment be seriously considered?