HC Deb 30 October 1946 vol 428 cc592-3
20. Brigadier Low

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the families of married warrant officers and other ranks in the R.A.F. serving in Egypt are being sent home from Egypt in order to clear married quarters for single officers; for how many married families, officers and other ranks, respectively, there is accommodation in Egypt; and what plans he has to increase it.

Mr. de Freitas

I think there must be some misunderstanding. Families in Egypt are not being sent home to provide accommodation for single officers. As regards the second part of the Question, there are service married quarters for 29 officers and 203 airmen, mostly in the Delta area. We have started work on 260 more quarters which will bring our Service accommodation up to over 300, all of which will be in the Canal zone.

Brigadier Low

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that that will meet the demand of ranks of the Royal Air. Force who wish to have their families in the Suez Canal zone?

Mr. de Freitas

I am satisfied that it is a reasonable estimate of our requirements over the next couple of years.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the changes now taking place in Egypt are causing considerable anxiety of mind to wives of serving men over there, and that they are uncertain as to whether or not they should proceed to Egypt to join their husbands? Would the Government take an early opportunity of making a statement on this?

Mr. de Freitas

So far as the R.A.F. is concerned, we have informed wives that they should not go out there now because of the difficulty of accommodation, and families who are in Egypt will have first claim on the new quarters which are being built.