§ Mr. Robert Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the purpose of the Royal Air Force Mission in the Lebanon.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe Royal Air Force Mission in the Lebanon is paid for by the Lebanese Government. Its purpose is to provide advice and training to the Lebanese Air Force which is mainly equipped with British aircraft. When the United States Government presented the Lebanon with six British Hawker Hunter aircraft in November under the off-shore procurement programme it was agreed that Her Majesty's Government should contribute to the extent of providing free training in the flying and maintenance of these aircraft for the period of one year. For this purpose two Royal Air Force officers and fifteen other ranks are being attached to the Royal Air Force training mission in the Lebanon at the expense of Her Majesty's Government.
The total cost will be approximately £35,000 and Parliamentary approval will be sought for expenditure of £15,000 in this financial year by way of a Supplementary Estimate on the Foreign Office Vote.