HC Deb 06 February 1951 vol 483 cc184-5W
86. Mr. Low

asked the Secretary of State for War at what price beer is sold by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to troops in Korea; what additional charge is made for the bottle or container; and to what extent Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have recently reduced their price.

Mr. Strachey

N.A.A.F.I. in Korea charge 1s. 9½d. a reputed quart for bottled beer from the United Kingdom, and 1s. 4d. a reputed quart for Japanese beer. No additional charge is made for the bottle or container but, through a misunderstanding, a deposit of 3d. was at first charged. All units concerned have been reimbursed. There has been no recent reduction in price.

97. Mr. Alport

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the delay which has occurred in the notification to families of casualties in Korea; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the method at present adopted is improved.

Mr. Strachey

Save in isolated cases, the average time taken to notify casualties to next-of-kin is three to four days from the date of the casualty. Missing personnel are not reported as casualties until 72 hours after they have become missing, and the delay in such cases is, therefore, somewhat longer. All possible action has been taken to reduce the time required for notification to a minimum and I am satisfied that the present procedure is expeditious as possible.