HC Deb 21 January 1959 vol 598 cc191-2
28. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Air when it was decided to paint the wings of Royal Air Force aircraft used in the Suez operation with two yellow stripes on a black background; and how many are still so marked.

Mr. Ward

The Anglo-French plans for operations which might be undertaken in the Middle East to guard against dangers which might result from the nationalisation of the Suez Canal in July, 1956, provided that British and French aircraft used in any such operations should carry these special markings in addition to national markings. This is quite usual in a combined operation. The special markings were put on R.A.F. aircraft on 30th October, 1956. They were removed as soon as the Suez operations were concluded. No R.A.F. aircraft still carry these markings.

Mr. de Freitas

Were not these markings those in use by the Israeli Air Force when they invaded Egypt, and is not this direct evidence of collusion between the Government and the Israelis?

Mr. Ward

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply he received from the Foreign Secretary on 19th December, 1956.

Mr. de Freitas

Will the Secretary of State for Air please look again at that reply and see if it is not direct evidence of passing the buck from one Department to another? Will he come clean on this, because it is an important matter?

Mr. Ward

The hon. Gentleman has already had an answer from the Foreign Secretary and I have absolutely no responsibility for the Israelis.

Mr. Bevan

With all respect, that is not the question that was asked. Were these markings used by the Israeli Air Force?

Mr. Ward

I have no knowledge of those facts—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Let me finish. Do not be so hurried. I have seen a picture in the Aeroplaneof an Israeli aircraft with these markings on it, but there is no question whatever of these markings being given to the Israeli Air Force by the United Kingdom.

Mr. Dudley Williams

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the colour of these alleged markings was much more appropriate to the conduct of Her Majesty's Opposition during the Suez operation?

Mr. Bevan

Whilst it may be correct that the markings which were used were not conveyed to the Israeli Air Force, did the Israeli Air Force convey to us what their markings were going to be?

Mr. Ward

As far as I know, no.