HC Deb 26 April 1949 vol 464 cc2-3
2. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for War what has been the average weekly cost of maintaining our Forces at Aqaba during April.

Mr. M. Stewart

Information is not available centrally from which the cost of keeping the force at Aqaba could be estimated.

Mr. Hughes

Could the Minister give an approximate idea of our expenditure. whether this expenditure is to be continued, and what steps are to be taken to reduce it?

Mr. Stewart

I think my hon. Friend is aware that it is not the practice to give figures which would throw light on the strength of the Army, other than the division between this country and B.A.O.R. and all other overseas theatres together. Even, therefore, if it were possible to make the estimate which my hon. Friend requests, I doubt if it would be in the public interest to give it.

Major Tufton Beamish

Is there any reason to suppose that the cost would be any more if the troops were somewhere other than in Aqaba?