§ 32. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Air the total expenditure on the Royal Air Force in Cyprus since its establishment as a base up to the present time; and what further expenditure is to be incurred there.
Mr. WardAbout £10 million has so far been spent on construction for the Royal Air Force in Cyprus. I cannot forecast how much will be spent throughout our future tenure.
§ Mr. HughesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Randolph Churchill said recently that the purpose of this air base is to bomb the Soviet Caucasus? Does not he think it a dangerous thing to invest £10 million of British money in a place which could be so easily destroyed by a rocket?
Mr. WardI cannot comment on what was said by Mr. Randolph Churchill. It is true that Cyprus has become increasingly important as the only base of the United Kingdom in the Eastern Mediterranean from which we can protect our interests in that area.