§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Secretary of State for Defence what number of houses and flats will ultimately be provided for Service families stationed at Bahrain; what other buildings for their use such as churches, shops, clubs and recreational facilities, and schools, have been or will be constructed; and what will have been the total cost of all these items, respectively, when the building programme has been completed.
§ Mr. Boyden:Accommodation is being provided for 650 families of servicemen arid of civilians employed by the Ministries of Defence and Public Building and Works. A few of these families will be allocated married quarters but the majority will use accommodation leased from local landlords.
The building programme includes a N.A.A.F,I. families shop and a school on which just over £20,000 has been spent to date. The families may also use many of the facilities mentioned in the reply I save today to a Question from the hon. 142W Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. John Ellis), which are provided for the use of the Service men.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the manpower of British forces at Bahrain and Sharjah on the latest convenient date in 1966; and what will be the ultimate strength of forces there when the planned build-up is complete.
§ Mr. Boyden:The manpower strengths of British Forces at Bahrain and Sharjah in 1966 were just under 3,000 and 400 respectively. Next year they are expected to be about 3,500 and 2,500, respectively.