Troops, Korea (Hansard, 13 February 1951)

§ 82. Major Beamish
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that warm and waterproof clothing issued to British troops fighting in Korea is still inadequate and compares unfavourably with clothing issued to American troops; what is the reason for this; and what immediate steps he will take to improve the situation.

§ Mr. M. Stewart
Reports received in the War Office, both official and unofficial, indicate that the warm and waterproof clothing issued to British troops in Korea is not inadequate, nor does it compare unfavourably with United States clothing. Certain United States items are considered preferable to ours but, on the other hand, some British clothing is considered better than that of the United States. In order to improve the former, British articles of an improved pattern have been ordered.

§ 83. Major Beamish
asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish a list of warm and waterproof clothing issued to all officers and other ranks in the front line in Korea; and on what scale other such clothing is available for these men.

§ Mr. M. Stewart
I will, with permission, circulate this list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In addition to the items in the list, sufficient stocks have been provided to allow for the issue to each officer and other rank of a sleeping bag, a duffle coat and six blankets.
42W
Following is the list:

Item Scale of issue to each officer and other rank

Battledress blouse 1

Battledress trousers, pairs 1

Boots, ankle, pairs 1

Cap comforter 1

Drawers, woollen, short, pairs 2

Greatcoat 1

Jersey, pullover 1

Shirts, khaki, flannel 3

Socks, worsted, pairs 3

^*Socks, wool, heavy, pairs 3

Vests, woollen 2

^*Boots, F.P., pairs 1

^*Gloves, woollen, 3-compartment, pairs 1

^*Gauntlets, leather, pairs 1

^*Jerseys, wool, heavy 1

^*Insoles, felt, pairs 2

^*Neck squares 2

^*Vests, string 2

^*Poncho (in substitution of ground sheet) 1

^*Smock, khaki, wind proof, camouflaged 1

^*Trousers, khaki, wind proof, camouflaged, pairs 1

^*Smocks, white, camouflaged 100 per cent, for Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Infantry and Royal Signals.

^*Trousers, white, camouflaged, pairs

^*Covers, white, bergen rucksack

^*Jerkins, leather 10 per cent. of Force.

^*Coats, kapok 2½ per cent, of Force.

^*Covers, bedding roll 80 per cent, of Force.

Note: Items shown with an asterisk are issued free to officers.

91. Brigadier Clarke
asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements he has made for Service personnel in Korea to register their votes by proxy.

§ Mr. M. Stewart
All eligible Service personnel are given the opportunity annually to complete Armed Forces. Declaration Cards if they have not previously done so. One part of the card provides for the nomination of a proxy. With regard to the supply of Armed Forces Declaration Cards in Korea, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. Howard). on 12th December, 1950.

§ 92. Brigadier Prior-Palmer
asked the Secretary of State for War what would be the additional annual cost in dollars of permitting British Forces in Korea to change, on request, the whole of their pay into United States military payment certificates, so that they can have access, to such additional luxuries and comforts 43W as are available in the American Forces P.X. and not available in the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; and whether he will make arrangements for such exchanges to be permitted, in view of the fact that these men deserve every additional comfort that can be made available to them.

§ Mr. M. Stewart
Assuming that all British Army personnel in Korea were to request the whole of their pay in United States military payment certificates and were in a position to spend it all in P.X. establishments, and making no allowances for allotments, expenditure in N.A.A.F.I. or other sterling commitments, the annual cost in dollars of this suggestion would be of the order of £2 million. Adequate N.A.A.F.I. facilities have been provided for the British Forces in Korea and I have no evidence that they need supplementing in the way suggested by the hon. and gallant Member. In any case, I understand that P.X. facilities would not be available to our troops in forward areas.

Item	Scale of issue to each officer and other rank
Battledress blouse	1
Battledress trousers, pairs	1
Boots, ankle, pairs	1
Cap comforter	1
Drawers, woollen, short, pairs	2
Greatcoat	1
Jersey, pullover	1
Shirts, khaki, flannel	3
Socks, worsted, pairs	3
^*Socks, wool, heavy, pairs	3
Vests, woollen	2
^*Boots, F.P., pairs	1
^*Gloves, woollen, 3-compartment, pairs	1
^*Gauntlets, leather, pairs	1
^*Jerseys, wool, heavy	1
^*Insoles, felt, pairs	2
^*Neck squares	2
^*Vests, string	2
^*Poncho (in substitution of ground sheet)	1
^*Smock, khaki, wind proof, camouflaged	1
^*Trousers, khaki, wind proof, camouflaged, pairs	1
^*Smocks, white, camouflaged	100 per cent, for Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Infantry and Royal Signals.
^*Trousers, white, camouflaged, pairs
^*Covers, white, bergen rucksack
^*Jerkins, leather	10 per cent. of Force.
^*Coats, kapok	2½ per cent, of Force.
^*Covers, bedding roll	80 per cent, of Force.
Note: Items shown with an asterisk are issued free to officers.