Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for India whether he will increase the number of personnel dealing with Service welfare in India?
§ Mr. AmeryI am confident that any request from the Commander-in-Chief, India, for an increase in such personnel will receive sympathetic consideration. I understand that in the view of the Director of Army Welfare, who has recently visited India, there is room for a substantial increase of welfare personnel and I am taking up with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War and the authorities in India the question of the extent of the requirement and the means of meeting it.
Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the peculiar difficulties of Service conditions in India, he will give an assurance that 15s. per head per year per man is available to general headquarters for amenities?
§ Mr. AmeryThe sanctioned grant is at present 9s. I have not received any request from the Government of India for1404W an increase. The corresponding rate sanctioned by the Treasury is 1s. 6d. for the United Kingdom and 3s. for overseas stations.
Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for India how many mobile bath and drying units have been allocated to India and South Asia commands; and how many have been delivered?
§ Mr. AmeryIt would not be in the public interest to give the exact figures from which deductions could be drawn as to the strength of Forces but out of India's total demand, which is understood to include the South Eastern Asia Command, over 70 per cent. have already been shipped or delivered for shipment.
Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the difficult conditions of service in the Far East, he is satisfied that commanders-in-chief Indian and Far Eastern commands have adequate powers to take every possible step to secure the comfort and welfare of their troops?