HC Deb 23 January 1951 vol 483 c10
20. Mr. Mott-Radclyffe

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the casualties suffered up to the latest available date by British troops in Korea, killed, wounded and missing, respectively.

Mr. Strachey

The total British Army casualties sustained in the Korean operations up to midnight, 20th January, were 11 officers and 109 other ranks killed or died of wounds, 26 officers and 340 other ranks wounded, and 14 officers and 217 other ranks missing.

Mr. Mott-Radclyffe

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether either the Chinese or the North Koreans have co-operated at all in tracing the missing or whether the International Red Cross Organisation is functioning at all?

Mr. Strachey

Very little. The North Korean Government did inform the United Nations in July last that their Army was observing the principles of the Geneva Convention, but they have not permitted any Red Cross representatives to see what is happening.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Can the Minister tell us whether, with a view to preventing further casualties in Korea, His Majesty's Government are giving full consideration to the recent offer to cease fire?

Mr. Speaker

The Question asked only for the total number of casualties and did not ask about other matters.