HC Deb 12 December 1956 vol 562 cc410-1
11. Mr. Hayman

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in order to allay anxiety and to dispel misunderstanding about the damage to residential areas of Port Said as a result of aerial bombardment, he will both publish and place in the Library of the House of Commons ground photographs of the damage to the Arab quarter destroyed, an area approximately 400 yards by 250 yards, and of the block of buildings severely damaged, an area approximately 220 yards by 100 yards, as indicated in the aerial photographs he has already placed in the Library.

Mr. Birch

I have been asked to reply. I regret that ground photographs of the areas mentioned by the hon. Member are not available. I am, however, adding to the collection of photographs in the Library some low-level aerial pictures which show clearly the damage to these areas.

Mr. Hayman

Does not the Minister consider that this is very unsatisfactory? All kinds of charges are being made against Britain and are being denied by Her Majesty's Ministers, when a few simple ground photographs would have given the true picture.

Mr. Birch

I have studied these photographs with some care myself, and I would advise the hon. Member to do so. They do show the extent of the damage with very great clarity, and with far greater clarity than ground photographs possibly could.

Captain Duncan

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the accuracy of this Question? Is it not a fact that the bulk of the damage at Port Said was done by fire, and very little, if any, by aerial bombardment?

Mr. Hayman

May I ask the Minister to bear in mind that the areas I have defined were taken from his own aerial photographs in the Library, and that although he told me last week that the photographs were very clear, I did not find them so?

Mr. Birch

What I am considering is putting some other photographs in the Library which do show the extent of the damage with very great clarity. Of course, a great deal of that damage was done by fire.

24. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will arrange for officers and other ranks who have recently returned from Port Said to address an all-party meeting of Members of Parliament, giving details of their recent experiences during Britain's armed conflict with Egypt.

Mr. Birch

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir.

Mr. Lewis

As there is some disquiet and difference of opinion about what damage was or was not caused in Port Said, would it not be a good idea to give Members of Parliament on both sides of the House an opportunity to meet people who were on the spot and who saw what really happened?

Mr. Birch

I do not think that would be in accordance with normal practice. There were very full Press facilities for correspondents in Port Said.