§ 48. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for War why he is sending more 16-year-old boys to serve in Cyprus, in view of the present serious position there.
§ Mr. HeadI am satisfied that proper arrangements exist in Cyprus for the care and education of bandboys.
§ Mr. JannerDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that no useful purpose can be served by sending lads of that age into the atmosphere which prevails in Cyprus at present, and will he not respect the anxieties of people about the fact that boys of that age are being sent there? Will he please do something about stopping further boys being sent?
§ Mr. HeadThose boys are with their bands. They go with the band and with the rest of the boys there: they have education and musical instruction. They do not do operational duties, and although I do not want to say that there is no risk, I think that the risk, so far as they are concerned, is a reasonable one.
§ 50. Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for War the number of 16-year-old boy soldiers now serving in Cyprus; and how many are now under orders in this country to be sent there.
§ Mr. HunterArising out of that reply, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the serious objections expressed by hon. Members on this side of the House against exposing these 16-year-old boy soldiers to danger in Cyprus, why he continues to send any boys there, thus exposing more boys to risk of danger when, from inquiries I have made, they serve no useful purpose there and are a worry to their commanders?
§ Mr. HeadI think they do serve a useful purpose, and I have to some extent 1155 answered that question. All these boys are going to the same unit and will train with their bands, both educationally and musically, while they are there.