HC Deb 15 October 1952 vol 505 cc24-5W
Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence the present policy of Her Majesty's Government on the exposure of National Service men to military hazard in Korea.

Mr. Birch

So far as the Royal Navy is concerned, where one of Her Majesty's ships to which a National Service man has been posted is engaged in Korean waters, the National Service man shares the same duties as the regular.

The War Office policy is that no soldier, whether a Regular or National Service, may serve in Korea until he is at least 19 years old and has had at least six months' service, including adequate training. National Service men play their full part alongside the Regular soldiers.

There are no R.A.F. National Service personnel in Korea. Any who were sent there would have to be, in common with Regular airmen, at least 19 years of age and to have had a minimum of four months' service before embarkation. They would carry out the same duties as regular airmen.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what is the average period served by National Service men in Korea and Malaya, respectively.

Mr. Birch

So far as the Royal Navy is concerned, this information is not readily available, since ships spend only limited periods in the operational zones. At present, the number of National Service men serving with the Far East Fleet is very small and their total period of service in the Far East averages about seven months.

Over the past two years the average period spent by National Service men in the Army in Korea and Malaya has been about 11 months and 17 months respectively.

There are no R.A.F. National Service personnel in Korea. R.A.F. National Service personnel in Malaya serve an average of about 15 months there.