§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to lighten the amount of equipment carried by British troops on jungle patrols in Malaysia; and whether any reduction has yet been made in the normal infantry soldier's pack weight of 80 pounds.
§ Mr. MulleyIt is now recognised that the weight which should be carried by the soldier in normal operating conditions in the jungle should if possible be one third of his body weight, on average about 55 lb. load.
We are now trying to achieve this.