§ 86. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when, and for what reasons, the defence force raised in Basutoland during the war was disbanded.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerDuring the war, Basutoland sent contingents to the African Pioneer Corps. After the fighting ceased, it sent contingents to the High Commission Territories Corps, which was employed on guard and other duties in the Middle East. The men were enlisted for two and a half years; it was never intended that the forces to which they belonged should be permanent; and in fact they were disbanded, when they had completed the special tasks for which they were engaged. There has never been a permanent local defence force in Basutoland.