§ 15. Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for Air the estimated value of the Royal Air Force stores held at the Suez Canal base at the latest convenient date; whether he has any information about the situation that has developed since then at that base; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BirchApart from a small amount of equipment and spares for aircraft 932 staging at Abu Sueir and Fanara, the only Royal Air Force stores held in the Canal Zone were stocks of aviation fuel. At mid-September it is estimated that these stocks were worth £210,000. I have no definite information as to what has happened to the stores within the past fortnight.
§ Mr. BennSince one of the first reasons given by the Prime Minister for going into the Canal Zone was the value of British property there, is it not curious that the right hon. Gentleman has not been able to give us any information about those stores during the last two weeks?
§ Mr. BirchI have given the information that I can give, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, we are not physically in possession of the area where these things are.