§ 109. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men serving in the 12th Madras Engineers Battalion. I.E., S.E.A.C., were recently without an issue of soap for some six weeks and that their food and N.A.A.F.I. service generally are inadequate in quality and quantity; and what steps he is taking to deal with this and other similar complaints from S.E.A.C.
§ Mr. LawsonI am making inquiries about the supply of soap to this particular unit and S.E.A.C. generally. As re164W gards food the ration scale for British troops in S.E.A.C. is larger than that in any other overseas theatre. There have been complaints in the past about the shortage of fresh foods, but I understand that this has now been largely rectified by means of the importation of meat and fresh vegetables from Australia.