§ 42. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Defence if he will now make a further statement in regard to the total value of arms and munitions supplied to Egypt by Her Majesty's Government since October, 1951.
§ Mr. LewisWhy was it that last week the Minister refused to give me this information while on the same day his right hon. Friend gave the figures requested to two of my hon. Friends? Why were £9 million worth of arms supplied to Nasser while only £3 million worth were supplied to Israel up to 26th July, when the Government knew that Nasser and the Egyptians were receiving large quantities of arms from Soviet Russia? Can he explain that?
§ Mr. HeadMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade gave a total figure of all civilian and military supplies. That was not sub-divided, and since the war it has not been the custom of the Service Departments or the Ministry of Defence to give precise figures of this nature.
§ 49. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Minister of Defence if he can now give details of the quantity of arms, their type and value, supplied by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to Egypt during the two years ended 31st August, 1956.
§ Mr. FernyhoughCan the right hon. Gentleman say why he was so forthcoming on 11th November, at his Press conference, about the supply of arms by the Russians to the Egyptians and why, at the same time, he is so reluctant to give the House information about supplies by Her Majesty's Government to Egypt? What has he to hide?
§ Mr. BennOn a point of order. With very great respect, Mr. Speaker, the Question does not relate to a matter for which the Minister of Defence is responsible. I should be very grateful if you would give your Ruling on that.
§ Mr. SpeakerHe might be, otherwise it would not have been possible to table the Question. I thought he might have some intelligence on the subject.
§ Mr. BennEarlier, my hon. Friends sought to point out to the Minister information given by the French Ministry of Defence, with which the Minister has very close contact. In that case surely it was also fair to have assumed that the Minister might have information to give the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerIn this case, apparently, the Minister has already given information to the Press about it, and I had some grounds for supposing that he knew what he was talking about when he did so.
§ Mr. HeadThis is based upon very good information, and was given to the Press and the House, I think, by the Foreign Office some time ago. I should also say that we have never stated the details of arms supplied to other countries. That has always been the case, and I have no doubt that Soviet Russia would very much like to have the information which the hon. Member wants.