§ 48. Mr. J. Patonasked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the present conditions and amenities for serving men at the Royal Air Force station, EI Adem.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Airey Neave)A start on a building programme which includes a new airmen's club and the extension of four messes will be made within the next few weeks. Until this programme is complete, conditions will, I am afraid, fall short of what we should like. Facilities do exist, however, for a wide variety of sports and hobbies.
§ Mr. PatonIs the Under-Secretary aware that there is, and has been, considerable grumbling among other ranks about the conditions existing at this desert station and particularly about the very wide disparity between the standard of amenities provided for the officers and those provided for the men? Will the hon. Gentleman treat it now as a matter of high urgency to have that very considerable gap closed in order to make life tolerable for the men under the very disagreeable conditions existing at El Adem?
§ Mr. NeaveI agree that this is not a comfortable place to serve in at the moment, but various amenities exist—I can tell the hon. Gentleman about them in detail, if he wishes—which are quite good, and our plan is to improve them.