§ 44. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of British troops in Korea; what their tasks are; and whether he will state the number of troops in Korea from other Commonwealth countries under British command.
§ Mr. HeadThere are now about 5,000 United Kingdom troops in Korea and Japan, whose task is to demonstrate our support of the policy of the United Nations in Korea. Her Majesty's Government have no authority to disclose the strengths of the forces from Canada, Australia and New Zealand who contribute to the Commonwealth Forces in Korea.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs the largest proportion of the Commonwealth troops are from this country, and it seems that the trouble has subsided, is it not time that our men were brought home to this country? What is the Government's policy in this matter?
§ Mr. HeadAs I have said before, the policy of Her Majesty's Government is to build up as much as we can a strategic reserve and to reduce to the utmost our commitments in troops overseas.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs not that precisely why they should be brought home to the United Kingdom? If the right hon. Gentleman wants to build strategic reserves, is it desirable to retain these men in Korea, and particularly in Japan?
§ Mr. HeadThe right hon. Gentleman has been Secretary of State for War and he knows that these matters extend beyond the province purely of the War Office. They are matters to do with foreign policy, and so forth.
Mr. C. I. Orr-EwingIs it not true that there has been a considerable build-up of Communist troops in North Korea, in direct contradiction of the Armistice terms? In view of that, is it not right that some of our troops should remain in the South to uphold our rights there?