§ 27. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for Air how many Czechoslovakians have arrived in this country by R.A.F. transport in the last four months.
§ Mr. de FreitasNone, Sir.
§ Mr. PiratinIs it not the case that on 16th June an R.A.F. transport arrived at 2197 Manston containing a number of Czechoslovakians? Should not they be included in the answer to this Question?
§ Mr. de FreitasThat is not the case. That is why I said "None, Sir."
§ 28. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for Air why a R.A.F. transport was provided for newspaper reporters to go to Manston on 16th June in order to meet Czechoslovakians who were landing there.
§ Mr. de FreitasR.A.F. transport and an escorting officer were provided because Manston is an aerodrome which the Press are not allowed to enter without permission, and because it was desirable, in the interests of the refugees and of their relatives, that certain precautions should be observed when they were interviewed.
§ Mr. PiratinIs it not the case that these journalists were transported to Manston in a R.A.F. transport in order to meet the Czechoslovakians who were arriving there?
§ Mr. de FreitasYes, Sir; that is perfectly true. The journalists wanted to go, and, therefore, a R.A.F. coach was laid on to take them. They went together in the coach.
§ Mr. BlackburnWill my hon. Friend make it clear that these facilities will be provided without any form of political discrimination, and that they may include Communist refugees from what the Cominform has officially described as "the Turkish terrorism of Tito in Yugoslavia"?
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that some of these Czechoslovakians fought for Great Britain in the Battle of Britain, and that we should do everything to facilitate their arrival in this country?
§ Mr. de FreitasYes, Sir.
§ Mr. PiratinCan the Under-Secretary give an assurance that at least his Ministry is not interfering in another country's affairs?
§ Mr. de FreitasThat has nothing whatever to do with this Question.