HC Deb 30 November 1955 vol 546 c2284
11. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Defence how many Service men are still posted as deserters in Korea.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

One soldier and one Royal Marine are still posted as deserters in Korea.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Are these two men not the same men who were classified as being illegal absentees in March last, and is the right hon. and learned Gentleman completely satisfied that it would not be just as fair in the circumstances to post them as missing, in order to obviate the need for proceedings later on the part of relatives to presume the deaths of the men concerned?

Mr. Lloyd

I am aware of the case to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman is referring, that of a third man, but so far as my information goes, we are satisfied in these two cases that they are deserters.