§ 16. Miss Burtonasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement concerning the number of concert parties visiting British troops in Korea during the month of December; and how many times it should be possible for each man to see such a show.
§ Mr. HeadTwo concert parties will visit our troops in Korea during December. It is also hoped that a third party will go there from Australia towards the end of that month. Apart from men who may be on duty on the day of the party's visit, every man should be able to see each of the parties.
§ Miss BurtonWithout wishing to detract from the good services of the concert parties that will be going to Korea in December, may I ask whether the Secretary of State is aware that there are several disquieting reports about the way 173 in which the War Office looks after this aspect of the matter? Would he feel able to consider the suggestion that either the War Office or the artistes themselves should compile a pool of names of people willing to go out to Korea to entertain the troops?
§ Mr. HeadThanks to Mr. Littler, Mr. Beaumont and others, leading authorities of the stage got together and gave us the names of stars. I understood that the quality had improved very much since that Committee was formed. It has done very good work indeed, and on the whole the standard of show lately has gone up.