§ 5.4 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF CLANWILLIAMMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government what is the position as regards the eligibility of Indians and Burmans in this country to volunteer for service in the armed forces.
§ THE MARQUESS OF ZETLANDMy Lords, I am glad to have the opportunity of stating that His Majesty's Government have decided that during the present emergency Indians, Anglo-Indians and Burmans who are in this country are to 1475 be on the same footing as British subjects of pure European descent as regards voluntary enlistment in the armed forces and as regards eligibility to be considered for the grant of emergency Commissions in those forces. This principle will apply in the case of all three Services, the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force.
LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess in reference to that—I do not know that it is quite fair to ask him, but he may be seized of the answer—whether the same applies to other members of the Empire not of European descent who may be in this country? I refer to gentlemen from the West Indies or from Africa, who may be able to do very useful work at the present time. It might be useful if it could be 1476 known that they are all eligible, as I assume they are.
§ THE EARL OF CLANWILLIAMMy Lords, I was going to ask the same question.
§ THE MARQUESS OF ZETLANDMy Lords, in reply to the question which has been asked, I understand that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies is making a statement to the same effect as regards the Colonies, I think to-day.