HC Deb 19 July 1961 vol 644 cc1215-6
7. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what ships and personnel from his Department are involved in the evacuation of troops from Kuwait.

Mr. C Ian Orr-Ewing

The commander-in-chief has been instructed to announce the movements of ships and troops. He has already stated that No. 45 and No. 42 Commando and H.M.S. "Bulwark" are likely to leave Kuwait shortly. I have nothing to add at present.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Minister aware that apparently a large sum of money has been spent in Kuwait and that a considerable number of troops are suffering great hardship in Kuwait as a result of the request of the Ruler of Kuwait for security? Could he arrange for the evacuation of the Ruler of Kuwait and protect him here by Scotland Yard?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I am sure that the hon. Member realises that the Government's first consideration was to honour our recent and solemn undertaking to the Sheik of Kuwait. I am surprised that he wants to relate this honour to £s. d.

10. Lieut.-Colonel J. K. Cordeaux

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what has been the incidence of heat exhaustion among Royal Marine Commandos in Kuwait.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence made a statement on the situation in Kuwait on 11th July, in which he said that the number of cases of heat exhaustion were well under 1 per cent. of the total force. This general average applied equally to men of the Royal Marine Commandos despite the fact that in the early stages of the campaign, these men had to work in forward areas throughout the heat of the day in very trying conditions.

Lieut.-Colonel Cordeaux

Will the Minister therefore agree that the Royal Marines do not fall out and collapse due to any extremes of weather, when on active service or for that matter on the parade ground, and that they very much resent any suggestion of this sort? In that connection, will he take this opportunity to deny the ridiculous reports which appeared in the Daily Mirror on 6th July that a Royal Marine Commando was withdrawn from Kuwait because one-third of the men were suffering from heat exhaustion?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I am delighted to deny the accuracy of that report. The total number of cases needing hospital treatment among the Commandos has been about fifteen. On average it has been about one a day. They have not only undertaken the operation with tremendous efficiency but have stood up to the conditions remarkably well.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Has my hon. Friend received any requests from Parliamentary delegations who want to visit the men on the spot?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Not to date.