HC Deb 24 November 1954 vol 533 cc1226-7
10. Mr. John Hall

asked the Minister of Defence if he will arrange for the same facilities for sending Christmas parcels by air mail free of charge to Kenya as have been announced for troops stationed in Japan, Korea and Malaya.

1. Mrs. Mann

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that all men serving with the Forces abroad were not included in the concession of free Christmas parcels; which groups were ineligible and why: and if they will be granted the concession now.

Mr. H. Macmillan

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Major Anstruther-Gray) on 17th November, when I stated that the concession would apply, as in the previous year, to our Forces in Korea and Japan and to entitled personnel in Malaya. I am afraid that I am not in a position to extend this concession.

Mr. Hall

Will my right hon. Friend look at this question again? The relatives of men serving in Kenya cannot see why they should be at a disadvantage as opposed to those serving in, say, stations like Japan.

Mr. Macmillan

Yes, Sir. As my hon. Friend will recognise, however, any concession which is in itself a departure from the normal practice always has some boundaries, and these always tend to raise anomalies. This is the best that we can do for this year, but I will look at the matter again.