HC Deb 20 June 1921 vol 143 cc889-90
53. Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the Lord Privy Seal when the Colonial Secre- tary will make his promised statement on the position of Egypt from the Air Force point of view?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

My right hon. Friend included a statement on this subject in his speech on the Vote for the Middle East. Any further statement, which, I presume, would be made by the Secretary of State for Air, must take place in the discussion of the Air Votes.

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I listened to the whole of the speech, and there was not a word about air in it. Does the right hon Gentleman not remember that the Secretary for the Colonies went out to Egypt, taking with him the Air Staff, and that he distinctly promised, on the original Air Estimate, that on his return he would deal with the very important question of the maintenance of the air stations in Egypt?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

At the time when my right hon. Friend said he expected to deal with the air situation in Egypt he was Secretary of State for Air as well as Secretary of State for War; but the speech which the right hon. Gentleman delivered the other day was of such great moment, and dealt with problems which so interested my hon. Friend that perhaps he overlooked this particular passage.

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I did not hear it.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Neither did I.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Hon. Members must have overlooked it.

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

It must have been a very rarefied statement.