HC Deb 19 January 1954 vol 522 cc827-8
41. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for sending 30 National Service men to Malaya in December, 1953, who had completed all but eight months of their service in the Army; and how long they would be available for active service in that country.

Mr. J. R. H. Hutchison

Under present regulations men, whether Regulars or National Service, may accompany their units to Far East Land Forces if they have at least eight months' residual service. It was under these rules that these National Service men accompanied the First Battalion, The Royal Hampshire Regiment, to Malaya. They will be available for service there for some 7½ months if they come back by air, or about a month less if they return by sea

Mr. Shinwell

But as these National Service men—30 of them—were sent to Malaya, not by air but by sea, which probably took about five or six weeks, and as they require to become acclimatised and to undergo some jungle training, is it not obvious that the period of active service will be no more than 4½ months, and is this not thoroughly uneconomical?

Mr. Hutchison

We have to balance our commitments with our manpower. The right hon. Gentleman will no doubt have made a calculation for himself as to what the effect upon this problem would be if National Service were reduced to 18 months.

Mr. Shinwell

I can discuss that with the hon. Gentleman at any time the Government care to raise a debate on the subject, but may I ask him now whether, in regard to the subject of the availability of manpower, which he raises in reply to my question, he says that it would not have been possible to have secured the services either of 30 Regulars or 30 National Service men with longer than eight months to serve? Does he say that?

Mr. Hutchison

I do not say that, but this is not unique, because there are occasions, in carrying out the unit relief system, when sometimes men with the whole eight months out there are not available to us; but on the other hand there are many occasions when we get men with much more. We have to balance all of them together.