HL Deb 24 January 1951 vol 169 cc1159-69

5.43 p.m.

VISCOUNT LONG rose to ask His Majesty's Government whether the Welfare Department in the War Office has been re-formed; whether there are Welfare Departments in existence in the Air Ministry and the Admiralty; further to detail the steps that have been taken to ensure that welfare arrangements for British Forces in Korea and other Far Eastern theatres are on at least the same scale of efficiency as in the last war; and whether such welfare facilities are available without restriction or qualification to other British Commonwealth Forces in the same area. The noble Viscount said: My Lords, I do not propose to detain your Lordships for long, but arising out of the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper I should like to ask the noble Viscount the First Lord of the Admiralty to accept my apology for not giving him sufficient notice with regard to the first question which arises out of the main question—namely, can the noble Viscount tell us what is happening to our prisoners-of-war and our missing? I appreciate that China does not recognise the Red Cross, but I am one of those parents who, in the last war, had to go through eighteen months of waiting for a result one way or the other. Perhaps I was put out of my misery earlier than many others, who had to wait sometimes for years before getting the inevitable answer. I agree that the notice given the noble Viscount is very short, and he may say that it has been too short. If that is the case, I shall understand; but this is probably the greatest problem of all affecting the parents and wives of those who have been unfortunate enough to fall by the roadside or to be taken prisoner in Korea.

May I now turn to the questions arising out of the main question, which affects all three Services in one way or another? First of all, I wish to deal with Korea. As I understand it, our Service men, whether of the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force or the Army, can-not go into an American canteen and change their money into dollars. There-fore they cannot buy goods in an American canteen. If that is so—and I am sure the noble Viscount will tell us frankly if it is so—I can imagine nothing more likely to engender irritation among our men out there. Can the First Lord give us any statement with regard to that matter? Next with regard to rations. Is it a fact that the scale of rations to-day for all three Services is less than the scale given in the 1939–45 war? If so, can the noble Viscount tell us why that is so or whether there is any idea that they should be increased? There is a great deal of anxiety in this country about the troops having to pay for their Christmas dinner. Many of us served in two World Wars, and we know that sometimes you have to put your hands in your pockets. But here we are told that the regimental funds of the Regular regiments had to be raided to a considerable extent, and that beer, however bad—and it was almost unobtainable—was at an exorbitant price. Indeed, our troops had to "pay through the nose "for their Christmas dinners out there. Can the noble Viscount give us an assurance that if another occasion arises when our troops are out there, such a state of affairs will not happen again, and, above all, that Regimental funds will not be raided to that extent?

Now I come to the question of clothing. I must say that I am somewhat surprised that the War Office issued a letter, dated January 13, in which they invited the wives and the women of this country to knit balaclava helmets and accessories of that sort. May I ask the First Lord whether that letter has been sent to the British Legion? Has it been sent to the Women's Institutes? Has there been broadcast on the wireless how these comforts are to be made and sent, and, furthermore, is a special wool to be issued at a reasonable price to the women to make these balaclava helmets? I am informed that one brigade went to fight in berets and another in balaclava helmets because there were not enough balaclava helmets to go round. So far as I am concerned, this is the first notification there has been about balaclava helmets and other clothing.

I now turn to the question of boots. Can the noble Viscount tell us whether our men have the right boots? One brigade had the right boots for the fighting, and another brigade had a totally different kind of boots. It seems absolutely staggering to me that when we had the advice that war might break out at any moment in Korea, somebody in some office in this country should not have seen to clothing and to advising that there should be a supply of various things. After all, it was only for two Brigades. With regard to leave, I am delighted to have read yesterday in the Press that there is a system—presumably the air transit system —now in operation which is flying our men into Japan for their leave. Still more was I delighted to know that Brigadier Coad, who commanded our Wiltshire Regiment, was one of those gallant fellows who had been allowed at long last a rest in a peaceful country. I should like to know whether the leave arrangements are now satisfactory. Turning to general comforts, may I ask whether the Government are taking any steps to ensure, through the Welfare Department, that wireless sets are supplied? With regard to recreational equipment, I may say that in November last year there were no "soccer" footballs at all to be bought in Hong Kong. There were no "rugger" footballs to be had. There were no foot-ball boots, no football shorts and no foot-ball vests. What steps have His Majesty's Government taken to ensure that the recreational equipment is there?

It was announced in the papers that newspapers are being sent out there. Have the British Legion been informed, because they can play a tremendous part there? In Wiltshire, the British Legion have undertaken to send cut every week all the local papers throughout the county. Not only are they sending out all the local papers (owing to the group system, they are sending out all the local papers for twelve months to the county regiments, because they were not getting any) but they are also sending out weekly periodicals with pictures, and so on. Can the. noble Viscount tell me whether these are arriving regularly? I come for a moment to the postal question, and I ask the noble Viscount: Does he know that in the case of the fellows out in Korea or Japan, there was some frightful muddle? I am not criticising anybody, but how much was lost by the men sending their telegrams or cables home, to their parents, at exorbitant rates, to say that they were well?

With regard to the welfare services, I hope the noble Viscount can assure me that the information we have received is incorrect, because, if it is correct, then I say quite frankly in your Lordships' House that this treatment of the father and mother of a private undergoing court-martial for the so-called murder of a Korean is inhuman. How on earth any-body is to tell the difference between a North Korean and a South Korean I fail to understand. It rather takes me back to peace-time manoeuvres when we had white cap bands for "Southland" and red cap bands for "Northland." I am told that the first news that the father and mother had that their son was being courtmartialled came from the newspapers in this country. What has happened to our welfare services? Have we welfare officers in every Command? Are they keeping in close touch with the Argyll and Sutherland Regiments in Scotland, with the Middlesex Regiment in our own midst, with the Ulster Rifles, with the Fleet and with the small personnel of the Royal Air Force? Have we our welfare officers in this country working at the present time, keeping in touch with these people?

Then I ask this question about the padres. Have we sufficient padres out there? Can the noble Viscount assure us that not only Church of England padres but padres of all denominations of faith in this country are out there? Finally, I should like to ask this main question—I do not ask it in any critical sense. I believe that noble Lords in all parts of your Lordships' House have the greatest admiration for the wonderful way in which our troops, together with our American Allies and other troops of the United Nations, have stood up to conditions. Nevertheless, I believe that there is the greatest anxiety amongst the people in this country that all is not well. So perhaps the noble Viscount, in replying, will be able to make some reference that will help to cheer on those who have their men serving out in Korea. By the practical work of the welfare services which we have, and which were working so well at the end of the last war (perhaps they could be revived in that form), I am confident that these fathers, mothers and wives who have suffered in this war will at least receive practical sympathy. I beg to ask the Question standing in my name.

5.56 p.m.

VISCOUNT HALL

My Lords, I am sure that all your Lordships will agree with me that we are very pleased that the noble Viscount has raised these important questions. He said rightly that all your Lordships, irrespective of where you sit, and indeed all members of the public generally, are most anxious to see that these gallant men are treated in the way in which they should be treated. I hope that I shall be able to satisfy the noble Viscount upon most of the points which he has put to me. If I cannot satisfy him in respect of all of them, then I will take up those matters with my Service colleagues to see what the situation is and, if there are difficulties, they will be dealt with.

One question which was put by the noble Viscount was in relation to the Welfare Directorate of the War Office and the other two Services. I should say at once that the Welfare Directorate of the War Office has not been reconstituted. In the War Office and the Air Ministry, welfare matters are dealt with by the Directors of Personal Services; the Admiralty have a Welfare Department under a Director of Welfare and Service Conditions. The War Office and Air Ministry Welfare Directorates were set up to deal with war-time conditions and war-time numbers. Their abolition does not signify in any way any reduction in the scope of welfare activities in those two Services. Responsibility for the welfare of the Forces in a particular area rests with the Commanders-in-Chief. The responsible authorities in the Far East have been asked about welfare arrangements there, and they have replied that these are satisfactory, and that present standards are considered to be comparable with those which obtained in the last war. All the welfare facilities arranged for the United Kingdom Forces are at the disposal, with-out restriction, of other Commonwealth Forces in the same area. Similarly, Commonwealth facilities are available for our Forces.

The noble Viscount has put to me a number of questions. There was one in relation to prisoners of war and those who are missing. I will deal with that before I conclude my remarks. The noble Viscount also asked whether there are difficulties about our troops being able to change their money in United States can-teens. The position is this: that N.A.A.F.I. provides a mobile canteen ser-vice for all the troops in Korea, including Commonwealth Forces, and the ser-vice given by N.A.A.F.I. is comparable with that provided in active theatres of operation in the last war. When British troops are integrated with American units, arrangements have been made for them to draw United States military permit certificates for use in American canteens, so that would, of course, serve the purpose of the changing of any money, and they ought not to be placed at any disadvantage on that score.

The noble Viscount, Lord Long, referred to the question of comforts. Per-haps I can take that in my stride in relation to the points upon which I have notes. He dealt fully with the question of rations, and asked whether the rations of our Forces in Korea are satisfactory. I can assure him that, so far as we have been able to ascertain, they are satisfactory, and are not below the scale which was in force in the South-East Asia Command during the period of the last war. In relation to clothing, the Royal Navy has always been provided with suit-able winter clothing when operating on the North China Station. So far as I know, there has been no complaint in the Royal Navy in relation to clothing. The Royal Air Force is based on Japan, where special winter clothing is not required, but special electrically-heated flying equipment was sent out for use by air crews operating further north, particularly in Korea. The 27th Brigade and the Royal Marine Commandos were supplied with full United Stales winter clothing, and the 29th Brigade Group is equipped with full winter clothing of British type.

The noble Viscount also raised the question of woollen balaclavas and helmets, and of whether letters were sent to various people. I am informed that letters were sent to all voluntary organisations in connection with this matter, with a view to assisting, and that there has been a remarkable response. It is not that the Service itself had neglected its duty, for 12,000 woollen helmets and 700 fur caps were sent to Korea as a Service issue. In addition, as a result of the volunlary appeal, large numbers of socks, balaclava helmets, scarves, gloves and mittens, amounting in all to nearly 20,000 articles, have been sent by the War Office, on behalf of the women's voluntary organisations. I do want to indicate, not only to your Lordships but also to these voluntary organisations, how much their very splendid effort has been appreciated.

My Lords, in regard to leave, leave centres and rest camps are situated in Japan, and arrangements have been made for troops to proceed on leave from Korea to a leave hostel near Tokio; and these facilities are already in use. Leave centres and rest camps are also in use in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya. In relation to canteens, N.A.A.F.I. provides a mobile canteen service for all troops, including Commonwealth troops operating in Korea. As I have already mentioned, where British troops or Royal Marines are integrated, then they are taken into the American canteens. Voluntary organisations such as S.S.A.F.A. and the Forces' Help Society each have a representative in Singapore, and the Council of Voluntary Welfare Work has centres in Singapore and Hong Kong. The Australian Young Men's Christian Associatior centre in Japan is open to United Kingdom troops. The Command in Korea have been asked whether they need any canteens from voluntary organi-sations—I assume that voluntary organisations have offered canteens if there is a need for them.

The noble Viscount also raised the question of chaplains There is a full Army establishment of chaplains of all denominations in Korea. In relation to the difficulty of communications, British personnel employed under the United Nations can send lightweight air letters free of charge, and concession rates are available for parcels to and from families resident in Hong Kong and Singapore. Forces' lightweight letters can be sent from this country to troops in Korea for 2½d. A special cable rate has just been reintroduced for troops in Korea and Japan, who can send E..F.M. cables to this country at a flat rate of 2s. 6d. The same rate for outward cables from this country to Korea will be introduced shortly. On the question of general comforts, I am advised that sports gear is provided through N.A.A.F.I. from welfare funds. I will certainly look into the points which he put to me in relation to the lack at Hong Kong of Association and Rugby footballs, and also of recreational equipment of all kinds, and I will communicate with him. Wireless sets are available for the troops in Korea and special programmes have been arranged by the B.B.C. in the Overseas Service.

With regard to the question of news-papers and magazines, I can assure the noble Viscount that there is a reasonable supply of newspapers and magazines, which are supplied free, while 20,000 books have already been sent out, and another 10,000 will follow as soon as possible. The noble Viscount did not raise this question, but I would inform him that the Services in Malaya and Korea receive fifty free cigarettes or two ounces of tobacco a week. The noble Viscount raised the question of boots. If there is any complaint in relation to that matter I will certainly look into it. The clothing issue which was given to each member of the Forces who left this country included quite a number of articles, how-ever, and in order not to take up the time of your Lordships' House I am pre-pared to give the noble Viscount a copy of the complete list of the clothing issued when the troops left this country. The general welfare of the Commonwealth ground Forces in Korea is the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief, and I have no doubt that he will do what he can, not only for United Kingdom troops, but also for all troops, from whatever part of the Commonwealth they come. There are very few R.A.F. personnel in Korea; they are mainly in Japan. The War Office have, therefore, assumed responsibility for all special welfare arrangements for those troops. These welfare facilities will, of course, become available for the R.A.F. if airmen are moved to this theatre.

As regards the Royal Navy, the welfare position in the Far East is generally very good, since the ports we are using are well established, and such facilities as education, sport and entertainment have been extensively developed. The rating taking his family abroad for the first time finds, in most of the well-established naval stations, that the conditions awaiting him generally compare very favourably with anything in the United Kingdom. The result is that most of the naval welfare problems which arise do not concern general conditions but specific cases, such as domestic strife or severe cases of illness. On these occasions it has been found that naval organisations have been particularly effective in helping the families concerned. We are receiving few complaints—indeed, very few or none—from Korea or the Far East as to the welfare services, and altogether I think we can assume that in the main they are satisfactory and that the Services have done a good job in bringing the facilities generally up to war-time standards within the very short period of about six months.

The noble Viscount gave me notice of his question concerning prisoners-of-war. I wish that in reply I could say something which would give greater comfort to parents than they will be able to derive from the statement I have to make. I very much regret that His Majesty's Government have little information about the fate of our prisoners-of-war. As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for War said in another place yesterday, the North Korean Government did inform the United Nations in July last that their Army was observing the principles of the Geneva Convention, but they have not permitted any Red Cross representatives to see what is happening. They started by giving two lists containing 110 names of United States prisoners-of-war last September, but nothing more has been received since. The Chinese Communist Government, in answer to questions about United Nations prisoners-of-war, have said that the Chinese troops in Korea are volunteers and, therefore, the question is nothing to do with the Chinese Government. That is a very strange attitude to adopt. The International Red Cross Committee have been making repeated efforts to obtain permission from the Chinese and North Korean Governments for one of their representatives to be allowed to enter their territories, but so far without success, although one of their men was allowed in Peking for a short time. They are also doing everything they can to see whether arrangements can be made for getting Red Cross supplies to United Nations prisoners-of-war. The United Nations Forces in Korea are sending lists of prisoners-of-war through the International Red Cross at Geneva, in accordance with the 1949 Prisoners-of-War Convention. We are hoping, as the result of representations which are being made, that the situation as it has been described by me will soon be greatly improved.

VISCOUNT LONG

I wonder if I might ask the noble Lord whether in this connection any effort has been made to enlist the services of Pandit Nehru, as he seems to be very friendly towards the Chinese people. Has he been called into consultation?

VISCOUNT HALL

There have been some consultations. I am afraid I can-not say anything more than that at the moment. I can assure the noble Viscount that His Majesty's Government are deeply concerned as to the present situation in relation to this problem. May I repeat that I will certainly look into some of the other points raised by the noble Viscount which I have not dealt with to-day, and will communicate with the noble Viscount upon them later. I am sure it is true that all your Lord-ships welcome the opportunity which has been given me to deal with the situation by the noble Viscount's act in putting his Question.

VISCOUNT LONG

My Lords, may I thank the noble Viscount very much indeed for the full answer which he has given to my Question?