§ Mr. Lewisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what action has been taken by his Department to establish an advisory Commonwealth Defence Council, a combined staff, and the standardisation of equipment, organisation and training within the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. BirchThe member countries of the Commonwealth have not set up a Commonwealth defence council or a combined staff. Other effective measures of Commonwealth consultation and co-operation in defence are, however, in existence and are more appropriate to the conditions of today. Organisation and training are in general on common lines, and equipment of British type is largely used, throughout the Commonwealth.