§ 83. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Commonwealth and other canteens and stores at which British troops on leave in Tokyo can spend their pay in sterling or in yen do not provide facilities comparable with those of the P.X.; what would be the approximate cost in dollars if each British soldier on leave or in hospital in Tokyo, or elsewhere in Japan, were allowed to change £5 of his accumulated pay into dollar scrip; and if he will ascertain from the commander of the United Kingdom Forces in Korea whether such a concession would be appreciated by them.
§ Mr. StracheyI have no detailed information regarding the facilities available in P.X. canteens and stores in Tokyo, but adequate Commonwealth canteen facilities are provided for British personnel on leave or in the British Commonwealth hospital in Japan. The cost of the proposed concession, if limited to British troops on leave or in the British Commonwealth hospital in Japan, would in present circumstances be of the order of £100,000 a year, but it would be impracticable to limit the concession in the manner suggested and it would inevitably lead to much heavier dollar expenditure. I am satisfied that the commander of the United Kingdom Forces in Korea will not hesitate to make any representations he thinks desirable for improving the conditions of his troops, and I do not therefore propose to refer my hon. Friend's suggestion to him.
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§ 84. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made for providing clean uniform or civilian clothes for British troops on leave in Japan.
§ Mr. StracheyI have called for this information and will write to my hon. Friend.