§ 58. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make inquiries and inform the House as to the number of Italian military aircraft in respect of which during the last six months requests for permission to fly over Egypt were communicated by the British to the Egyptian Government through the diplomatic channels; whether in any case permission was refused; and in what circumstances the British and Egyptian Governments, respectively, accept responsibility for giving this permission?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the normal procedure governing these flights. The foreign Government concerned applies directly to the Egyptian Government for permission for their military aircraft to fly over Egyptian territory, and a separate application must be made for each individual flight. During the last six months the Italian Government have requested permission for 11 military aeroplanes to fly over Egyptian territory; in four instances the flight has been abandoned. Permission was granted in each case. The Italian Government also requested leave for an unspecified number of flights over Egypt, without permission being sought on each occasion and subject only to prior notification to the Egyptian Government, but the latter replied that they could not depart from the usual routine. As regards the last part of the question, the normal procedure in the case of visits by the military aircraft of one country to the territory of another in times of peace is followed, namely, that the government of the visiting aircraft seek the permission of the government of the country to be visited, and that permission is normally granted.
§ Sir W. BRASSHas application been made by the Italian Government for permission to fly over Anglo-Egyptian Sudan?