§ 82. Mr. George Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of British soldiers now engaged in training the Greek regular forces; and what cost is incurred by this country.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew)The 814 British Military Mission, including administrative personnel, numbers approximately 1,100 officers and men. The annual cost to this country is at present approximately £800,000.
§ Mr. ThomasIs the Minister satisfied that this expenditure on the British Military Mission which is training the Greek Army is justified, in view of the revelations which came to light recently?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a matter of opinion and not a question for information.
§ Mr. ThomasMay I ask my hon. Friend whether he feels that this expenditure is in tune with the wishes of the people of this country?
§ Mr. MayhewYes, Sir, I think so. On the other hand, we admit that this figure is large, and we hope confidently for a considerable reduction in the near future.
§ Mr. McGovernCan the Minister inform us if he has any information of the cost of training the guerrillas, and who is supplying the arms?
§ Mr. MayhewThat is a question which should not be addressed to me.
§ 84. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the total cost of maintaining the British Police Mission and the British Military Mission in Greece since the end of the war; and whether he is satisfied that this experiment is justified.
§ Mr. MayhewSince it was started in July, 1945, down to 30th September, 1947, the British Police Mission has cost £138,000. The British Military Mission started in April, 1945, and has cost to date £2 million. The answer to the last part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."
§ Mr. ThomasIs my hon. Friend satisfied that this very heavy expenditure of our money in Greece is really useful expenditure so far as British prestige is concerned?
§ Mr. MayhewYes, Sir. We are effectively helping the Greek people to stand on their own feet.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHow much of that expenditure was incurred in trying to run to earth the hon. Member for Central Cardiff (Mr. G. Thomas) when he was staying with the Greek guerrillas.
§ Mr. WarbeyOn a point of Order. Is it in order for an hon. Member on the other side of the House to caste imputations on a Member of this House by implying that he has committed an offence which necessitated his being run to earth?
§ Mr. SpeakerI should have thought myself that the hon. Member was casting an imputation by suggesting that he was rather unworthy to stop with the guerrillas, which, as everybody knows, is what the hon. Member did.
§ Mr. ThomasFurther to that point of Order, would it be in order for me to ask you Mr. Speaker, if you would inform the House that I was never searched for, that the British Military Mission knew all the time where I was, and, indeed, kept in touch with me by letter which I received when I was with the guerrillas?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe are getting rather far from the original Question.