§ 8. Mr. Wiggasked the Minister of Defence whether he is satisfied that the Armed Forces at present serving in 1125 Cyprus are sufficient to restore and maintain law and order in accordance with the policy of Her Majesty's Government; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SandysAfter recent consultation with the Governor and military commanders, I am satisfied that the forces provided for internal security duties in Cyprus are sufficient.
§ Mr. WiggWill the Minister be good enough to be candid with the House by saying how it is possible, on 19th June, to send the 1st Guards Brigade with an announcement from his Ministry that it had gone there specifically for town duties in connection with internal security, and then when the situation worsens to withdraw that Brigade, plus the 19th Brigade, and say that the position is as it was?
§ Mr. SandysThe hon. Gentleman is always accusing me of cooking the figures, misleading the House, or the like. I wish he would leave out these prefaces to his remarks. The Guards Brigade was sent out, as the hon. Gentleman says, during the summer, and an announcement was made that it had been sent in order to strengthen the forces available for internal security duties. That was at a time—and I would ask him to bear this in mind—when we were threatened with growing intercommunal strife, which might have developed into something very much larger than the situation, serious as that is, with which we are faced today.