36. Mr. MALONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, how many miles distant His Majesty's Legation in Afghanistan is from the capital of that country; what is the acreage covered by 1390 the British Legation house, gardens, compound, and other residences and their dependencies; whether there is, within the Legation precincts or in the vicinity, ground suitable for an aircraft landing-place; whether he is aware that all the other foreign legations in Afghanistan are within a radius of about a mile from Kabul; when the premises formerly occupied by the British Legation were given up; and for what reason the change of Legation was made?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs the premises mentioned in the hon. Member's question were built by the Indian Public Works Department, I have been asked to reply. The British Legation is about two miles from the Western Gate of Kabul; its grounds cover about 24 acres but do not contain a suitable landing place for aircraft, nor is there one in the immediate vicinity. The position of the other Legations is as described by the hon. Member. The Legation moved into its permanent quarters, then under construction, in December, 1926, when the temporary premises they occupied were destroyed by fire.