§ 15. Mr. Wiggasked the Secretary of State for War whether he sought the advice of his consultant in tropical medi 1220 cine, Professor A. W. Woodruff, or his consultant in physiology and nutrition, Dr. D. P. Cuthbertson, when preparing his plans for sending troops into Kuwait at the hottest time of the year.
§ Mr. RamsdenThe problems associated with tropical medicine, physiology and nutrition affecting our troops in Kuwait are understood, and it was not necessary to seek special advice on this occasion.
§ Mr. WiggCan the hon. Gentleman say why it is that the Government maintain a panel of most distinguished advisers, and, when confronted with a special problem, do not consult these advisers? Would he not accept the view that in these days it is a disgrace that any single British Service man should suffer from heat hyperexia in the light of modern knowledge?
§ Mr. RamsdenThe hon. Gentleman has raised this matter several times recently. I should like to make it quite clear that my right hon. Friend not only values the services of these distinguished gentlemen, but that they are frequently used. As regards Kuwait and whether the troops are eating and drinking the right things to keep them fit, I am satisfied from what I saw that they are. Now that they are settled down to the drill and routine appropriate to the hot weather, everything is satisfactory.
§ Mr. KershawMay I ask my hon. Friend not to take too seriously the strictures of the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg), who has so long enjoyed the reputation of the Cassandra of the British Forces that he is absolutely furious that in Kuwait everything has gone all right?
§ Mr. WiggMay I assure the right hon. Gentleman that I do not think that Kuwait has gone all right? I think that the Government have used their public relations services to prevent the public from knowing the truth.
§ 18. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for War which units have now been withdrawn from Kuwait; and whether it is proposed to withdraw further units.
§ Mr. ProfumoTwo companies of the Coldstream Guards and a small number of supporting troops have already been 1221 withdrawn from Kuwait. The question of further withdrawals is still under consideration.
§ Mr. MayhewDo these withdrawals mean that an attack is not expected? Will the Minister bear in mind that we have reports of accommodation difficulties in Kuwait and continuing reports of a severe shortage of troops in other parts of the world? Is he not aware that he will be strongly criticised if he keeps troops hanging about in Kuwait for a moment longer than is necessary?
§ Mr. ProfumoI cannot accept all that, but I understand what the hon. Gentleman means. I shall be strongly criticised, I think, whatever we do, but I prefer to be criticised for doing our duty, and I think it is our duty to keep our troops there so long as the Ruler of Kuwait feels that they are necessary, and, in particular, so long as the commander-in-chief on the spot feels that there is uncertainty about the future. So soon as we are satisfied, we will certainly withdraw more troops, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that I hope it will not be long before we withdraw further troops. May I take the opportunity of refuting what the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) said? I believe that this is not a public relations exercise, but that it has been highly successful and very creditable to the Army.
§ Mr. WiggIf the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied, is he aware that the troops went in without anti-aircraft cover, with ineffective anti-tank weapons, with no ground strike force, short of long-range fighters and without any effective long-distance freighters? If that satisfies him, well, God help us if he had been disappointed.
§ Mr. Profumo rose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It is quite clear that this does not bear any relation to the original Question.