§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what additional cost he estimates is involved in clothing, provisioning and equipping the local security forces in Aden and the Protectorate with different types of dress, arms and supplies, from varied sources; and if he will consider a better and more uniform system of supply and indenting so as to save public moneys.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodConsiderable progress has been made towards standardisation of equipment, clothing and provisioning of local security forces in Aden. In the Western Protectorate the Tribal Guards who have been absorbed in the Federal National Guard are equipped in exactly the same way as the former Government Guards who have also been similarly absorbed. The100W Hadhrami Beduin Legion in the Eastern Protectorate has similar scales to the Federal National Guard and its equipment and provisions are indented for from the same sources. The Hadhrami Beduin Legion wears a different uniform to the Federal National Guard, but it is not considered that this involves additional cost. Equipment for the Aden Protectorate Levies is basically the same as for the Federal National Guard, although on a more generous scale of issue. There is no evidence to suggest that any change from the present arrangements is necessary or desirable.