HC Deb 15 November 1955 vol 546 c191
30. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for war what opportunities of promotion and training in England were available to non-commissioned officers of Mauritian nationality who served with the British Forces in the Suez Canal Zone of the Middle East.

Mr. Head

They were enlisted for service as Pioneers in the Middle East and there was, therefore, no question of their training in England. They can gain promotion up to the rank of warrant officer Class I.

Mr. Brockway

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction felt among non-commissioned and commissioned officers of the Mauritian Regiment that they have not had an opportunity to come here to train for Regular commissions? If I send him the evidence will he look into it?

Mr. Head

When they enlisted there was no possibility or proposal that that would be the case, and I do not know on what the dissatisfaction is based.