§ 39. Mr. MANDERasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the cost of construction of the new British air base at Dhibban; and what economies would be effected by an arrangement to remain at the existing base at Hinaidi?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir P. Sassoon)As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given 1467 yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Mr. Clarry). As regards the second part, I would remind him that the Anglo-Iraq Treaty of 1930 provided for His Majesty's Forces to be withdrawn from Hinaidi, and this provision is not in question. It is impossible to give a close financial comparison based on the hypothesis that Hinaidi continued in occupation, but it may be stated that an expenditure of at least £750; 000 would have been required for reconditioning the cantonment, and the recurrent cost of maintenance would have been appreciably more than it is likely to be at Dhibban.
§ Mr. MANDERCan my right hon. Friend say whether, from the purely service point of view, there is any advantage in removing this aerodrome?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThat question does not arise as, under the Treaty of 1930, we had to move.