§ 21. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement on the military and air operations that have taken place on or near the borders of Iraq and Transjordania in which His Majesty's forces, or forces commanded by British officers, have been recently involved; whether these operations have now come to an end; what have been their results; and what total casualties have been suffered on either side?
§ Captain MARGESSON (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to answer this question. The raiders have hitherto been engaged only with aeroplanes and armoured cars. No ground forces have been in action. It is as yet too early to say whether the operations can now be considered as concluded or what final results have been produced. The British casualties have been one pilot killed and one wireless operator wounded. My right hon. Friend has no reliable information in regard to the casualties inflicted upon the raiders.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary of State for the Colonies said in answer to a question that no soldier had been killed? Is it not rather straining a point when we find out that a pilot has been killed?
§ Captain MARGESSONI have given the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Report my right hon. Friend has received, and I have nothing further to add.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I point out to you, Sir, that I postponed one question at the request of another Minister, and the Colonial Secretary should either have asked me to postpone the question or have been here himself.