HC Deb 13 November 1951 vol 493 cc792-3
26. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War what information he has received concerning the conditions of British Service men taken prisoner in the war in Korea; and if official communication with them has yet been established.

Mr. Head

I regret that the International Red Cross Committee have still not received permission to visit prisoners of war camps in North Korea and that, despite repeated attempts, no other official channel of communication with British prisoners of war has yet been established.

Mr. Driberg

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Chinese Red Cross Organisation is acting in any way. as a forwarding agency or otherwise, on behalf of the International Red Cross. as was at one time hoped?

Mr. Head

So far as I know, little or no communication has been established with this body, and the only channel through which we have knowledge of prisoners of war is either their individual letters or some occasional reports which come in. This matter is down for discussion during the Armistice talks. and it may be that something will come out of that.

Mr. E. Shinwell

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the intention of the Government to make a statement shortly on the general operations in Korea? Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been directed to the fact that the gallant resistance of the King's Own Scottish Borderers has hardly received any reference in the United States? Can he rectify that omission?

Mr. Head

Although this is to some extent a slightly different matter, may I say that it was my intention to make a statement in the House with regard to this very gallant action by the King's Own Scottish Borderers and the Leicesters. It so happened that it was impossible to do this on Friday because the next of kin had not been informed. It would have been unfortunate if I had done so. By Monday, the whole question had been given full publicity in the newspapers, and I thought the House might resent my giving a statement on a matter which had been fully described in the Press. In regard to future communications regarding Korea, I am certain that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence will make statements from time to time, as the situation demands.

Mr. Barnett Janner

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why the Royal Leicesters were not referred to at all when the report was issued with regard to the gallantry of the troops in Korea? There is some resentment about this. Will he take an early opportunity of referring to their efforts?

Mr. Head

A release was made by the War Office to the Press describing both the gallantry and the importance of the part taken by the Leicesters in this attack. I have, of course, no control whatever over the prominence given to this in the Press, but I should like to take this opportunity of stating that the counter-attack delivered by the Leicesters was of great importance and was carried out with much gallantry.

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