HC Deb 15 February 1956 vol 548 cc2336-7
5. Lieut-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Defence how many officers serving with the Egyptian armed forces are being trained this year in the United Kingdom; and who bears the cost.

Sir W. Monckton

One hundred and eighteen officers serving with the Egyptian armed forces will have completed training or will have joined courses in this country by the end of the year. The cost of training is borne by the Egyptian Government.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

In the changed circumstances now prevailing, has not the time come to revise these arrangements— for example, in addition to training these officers in the latest British weapons, could we not ask Egypt to train some British officers with the Czech or Russian weapons they now have? Let us have some measure of reciprocity.

Sir W. Monckton

This is a longstanding connection between the two countries which it is in the interests of both the Egyptians and ourselves to keep going.

6. Lieut-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Defence how many non-British officers serving with the armed forces of Jordan are being trained this year in the United Kingdom; and who bears the cost.

Sir W. Monckton

Thirty-seven non-British officers serving with the armed forces of Jordan will have completed training or will have joined courses in this country by the end of the year. All these officers are in the Arab Legion. The cost of training is paid by the Jordan Government, which is assisted by Her Majesty's Government in meeting the cost of the Jordan forces as a whole.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

Are these officers told when they arrive why they are being trained here? In view of a broadcast by King Hussein over Amman radio on 15th January last, which said that the Arab Legion was being relied on to recover lost Palestine, is there not some conflict of purpose between the Jordan and British Governments as to what the Arab Legion is for?

Sir W. Monckton

I do not think that there is a conflict of purpose. There is a close treaty relationship with Jordan, as the House is aware, but there is no lack of reciprocity all round, and members of the Israeli forces are trained here, too.