§ 31. Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds £4,000 has been granted to the Arabs of Beersheba to help with their planting; and whether he is satisfied that such payments are desirable in the interests of law and order?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreExpenditure of £5,000 in relief works in the Southern District of Palestine has recently been approved. Part of this sum will be applied to the relief of widespread distress 1956 in certain areas of the Beersheba Sub-District due to a 75 per cent. crop failure. As regards the second part of the question, I am certainly satisfied that the prevention of distress is in the interests of law and order.
§ Colonel WedgwoodIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this is not a payment in order to prevent the cutting of telephone wires?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreCertainly.