§ 123. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that troops in Burma are discontented because men from that command are always demobilised late in their group; and what steps he has taken to ensure that troops demobilised from Burma are not at a disadvantage compared with their comrades from other commands.
§ Mr. BellengerI am not aware of discontent among troops in Burma about the time of their arrival in this country for release and I have no reason to think that men from that command have always been released late in their group. Arrivals and forecasts of ships from the Far East carrying men in groups 44 and 45 indicate that they will be here in time to be released well within the period allotted. With regard to the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 5th November to my hon. Friend the Member for the Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones). I am sending my hon Friend a copy of that reply.
§ 124. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for War how long it is expected that signallers in Burma will have to serve overseas; when Group 61 will be demobilised; and if he will give an assurance that signallers will not be retained in this com- 254W mand beyond the date for the release of their group as has happened in other commands.
§ Mr. BellengerSignallers in Burma, like other soldiers, may be required to serve overseas until they have completed their tour of overseas service under the Python scheme, or until they are released. I cannot say when Group 61 will be demobilised and I cannot give an assurance that it will not be necessary for the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief to defer the release of men in the Royal Signals in this or any other group as he has power to do, although I hope that it will not be necessary for him to do so.