§ 12. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for War what is the minimum period of training at home, excluding training on board ship, and in jungle conditions, before men are considered adequately trained to be sent into action in Malaya; and whether he has allowed a reduction in these minimum periods in any cases since British troops were involved in the fighting in Malaya.
§ Mr. ShinwellAll troops going to Malaya must have first completed at least 16 weeks' training and a total of 18 weeks' service. In the past some soldiers have been sent after shorter periods of training, which varied according to their arm of the service and the nature of their employment in it; it has been the rule that in every case they must have completed their basic training. The training required after disembarkation depends upon the employment and arm of the service, but soldiers are not employed in operations in the Far East without first receiving suitable training in local conditions.