§ Wing-Commander Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that only two cinemas in Singapore, namely the Alhambra and the Pavilion, are advertised as being free to His Majesty's Forces, and that the mobile cinemas are used almost exclusively for the showing of Indian films; and it he will take immediate steps to ensure that sufficient cinema shows are available in Singapore to meet the demand of His Majesty V Forces.
§ Mr. LawsonI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Mr. Mikardo) on 29th January last. There are a large number of Indian troops in the area and it is only reasonable that a fair proportion of mobile cinemas should 'be used for exhibiting Indian films,
§ Wing-Commander Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to complaints from Army units in Singapore that the issue of rations on full scale was not restored as promised on 1st December, 1945, and that further cuts in rations took place on 1st February 1946; and whether. in view of the local order that these rations cannot be supplemented by local purchases, he will undertake to restore the rations to the full scale in Singapore.
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§ Mr. LawsonMy information is that the full scale of rations was restored to Army units in Singapore on 9th December, 1945. As I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Uxbridge (Flight-Lieutenant Beswick) last week a reduced scale of rations was brought into effect on 1st February to meet the current critical world food situation. This revised scale is still) more generous than that issued to British troops in other overseas Commands, and takes account of the restriction on local purchases by the troops.
§ Mr. Cooper-Keyasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the rations and welfare amenities of troops stationed in Singapore are in accordance with the previously announced standards; and whether he has any comment to make on the complaints, details of which were furnished him on 20th February.
§ Mr. LawsonAs regards both the general question of rations for the troops in Singapore and the cinema facilities available I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. and gallant Member for South Blackpool (Wing-Commander Robinson) today. I am looking into the specific points raised in the correspondence which the hon. Member has sent to me, and I will write to him as soon as they have been investigated.