§ 6. Sir D. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for Air how many Ceylonese are employed directly or indirectly at the Royal Air Force installations in Ceylon; and the estimated annual cost to the British taxpayer of maintaining these installations.
§ Mr. SoamesThe number of locally entered employees is about 2,000, and the annual cost of maintaining the installations is about £1.5 million.
§ Sir D. GammansCan my hon. Friend say whether any arrangements have been made to give financial help to any men who may lose their employment as a result of these new arrangements?
§ Mr. SoamesWhen a statement was made at the end of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference it said that the representatives of the two Governments would meet at an early date in London and later in Colombo to make the detailed arrangements in regard to these matters, and I have no doubt that both Governments will bear in mind the point raised by my hon. Friend.