HC Deb 05 May 1954 vol 527 cc18-20W
53. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many colonial battalions were raised in 1953 in West Africa, East Africa, West Indies and Malaya, respectively.

Mr. Hopkinson

One battalion of the Malay Regiment completed formation and became operational in 1953. No new battalions were raised in West Africa, East Africa or the West Indies.

Mr. T. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the cost of military forces required for the internal security of Colonies, and the extent to which these forces should be controlled by the colonial Governments; and if he will publish a list of Colonies and other dependencies showing how much each proposes to spend on military forces in 1954–55 and what cash subventions Her Majesty's Government proposes to make to each in 1954–55 and the total sum so pledged.

Mr. Hopkinson

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th April, 1954; Vol. 526, c. 1128] supplied the following information

The following table shows proposed expenditure in 1954–55 on the maintenance of colonial military forces.

Territory Territorial Expenditure Subventions by Her Majesty's Government (from Colonial Services Vote)
£ £
Hong Kong 167,500
Singapore 743,800
Federation of Malaya 3,800,000
Aden 200,000
Somaliland Protectorate 300,000
Kenya 460,000
Uganda 260,000
Tanganyika 275,000
Northern Rhodesia 150,000
Nyasaland 7,500 610,000
Mauritius 75,000
Nigeria 1,370,000 2,640,000
Gold Coast 990,000
Sierra Leone 100,000
Gambia 16,500
Bermuda 9,500
Barbados 14,250
British Guiana 27,000 (1953)
British Honduras 3,356
Jamaica 50,000 230,000
3,980,000

The above figures exclude certain expenditure on the local forces of the East and West African territories which is met from Army Votes, and the financial assistance by H.M.G. towards the cost of the emergency in Kenya, some of which will be spent on the local forces. The figures also exclude financial assistance by H.M.G. to the Federation of Malaya (£1,009,000 in 1954–55) in respect of the capital costs of the expansion of the Federation's forces, and expenditure by other territories on capital works for the forces.