§ 86. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for War how many British officers and men are still serving in the small islands of the Pacific; and what arrangements are made for their welfare and for the inspection of the conditions under which they live.
§ Mr. LawsonThose small islands in the Pacific on which British troops are stationed are under the control of S.E.A.C. and the authorities in that command are taking all possible steps to provide such welfare and other facilities as conditions allow, in the same way as they do in other areas of the command. It is not the normal practice to publish figures of the strength of our forces in any particular area.
§ Sir G. Jeffreysasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to alleged bad and unhealthy conditions under which British soldiers are serving in Morotai and other islands in the South-West Pacific; and whether he will cause investigation to be made into these conditions with a view to action being taken for their amelioration
§ Mr. LawsonI am informed that there are no British soldiers stationed on the island of Morotai, which is in the Australian zone. As regards the other islands in the Pacific on which there are British troops, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Streatham (Sir D. Robertson) on Tuesday last.