§ 42. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Prime Minister what is the cost per month of our occupation of Palestine; what, if anything, is the return; and whether the time has now arrived for us to relieve ourselves of this financial responsibility?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on this subject on the 26th October and on the 23rd November, to which I have nothing to add. With regard to the last part of the question, the British forces in Palestine are already in course of reduction.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINHaving been put off twice by the Minister for War, to whom I addressed this question, may I ask my right hon. Friend, seeing that we have to make big cuts somewhere in regard to national expense, whether we could make them anywhere better than by taking away the forces from Palestine
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a big question of policy I am willing to discuss, but the Secretary of State for War made the fullest answer on the 26th October.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that the civil administration in Palestine is now self-supporting?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, I believe it is.