HC Deb 27 May 1952 vol 501 cc1133-4
12. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War why his Department rejected an offer by Mr. Donald Peers to spend three weeks in Korea giving concerts for the troops.

18. Major Legge-Bourke

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement on Mr. Donald Peer's offer to entertain British troops in Korea; and whether this offer has been accepted.

Mr. Head

The offer made to my Department was for Mr. Peers to go not to Korea but to Malaya for three weeks. This was not rejected, but it was suggested that, in view of the cost of the journey, it might be better if Mr. Peers went for five weeks. His agent said this might be possible in the autumn; however, it was later found impossible. Mr. Peers is now going to Malaya from 15th June to 11th July.

Mr. Driberg

While welcoming that last assurance, might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there has, in fact, been a misunderstanding between his Department and Mr. Peers, who stated in a Press interview that he was willing to go to Korea but that the Department had said that it was too expensive for only three weeks? Is not the need in Korea even greater than in Malaya, and would it not still be possible to divert Mr. Peers to Korea?

Mr. Head

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the original offer was to go to Malaya. We have arranged for a considerably increased number of artists to go to Korea, but I will readily consider any other offers, including that of Mr. Peers, should he wish to change.

Mr. Driberg

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that the comparatively trivial cost of flying them to Korea—trivial in comparison with the pleasure and entertainment which these artists give the troops—will not weigh with his Department?

Mr. Head

Our only object is to see that the flying out of anybody for that distance is justified by a reasonably long stay in the area.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

With a view to clearing away whatever misunderstandings and difficulties might have arisen in the past, will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to receive the deputation of representatives of the acting profession and hon. Members of this House at the earliest possible moment, as a result of which I am quite sure that some improvement can be effected?

Mr. Head

I have not yet received the invitation, and I am in the middle of discussions to ensure that a body exists to which all the artists will be welcome to come to offer their services. I do not want to get crossed lines, but I should never object to having a talk with the hon. and gallant Member about this.

Mr. Driberg

Could this be done in collaboration with the Secretary of State for Air, in the hope that these artists could be flown to Malaya and Korea free?

Mr. Head

The C.S.E.—Combined Services Entertainment—is run in conjunction with the Royal Air Force.