HC Deb 22 June 1960 vol 625 cc392-4
6. Mr. Thorneycroft

asked the Minister of Defence what was the date upon which the last commitment for work to be earned out on the base in Cyprus was entered into; what was the cost of this commitment; and whether he will undertake that no further commitments are entered into until agreement is reached on the future of the base.

Mr. Watkinson

Commitments for work in Cyprus were entered into on 16th and 17th June to a value of about £230,000. Whilst I fully recognise the point my right hon. Friend has in mind, I think it is better to preserve freedom of action about further commitments.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Does my right hon. Friend realise that this is rather like spending money on a house before having even signed a lease, let alone got hold of the freehold? Will he at least give an undertaking that no further commitments will be entered into unless agreement is reached on the future of the bases?

Mr. Watkinson

It can be said that the freehold—to follow my right hon. Friend's metaphor—was clearly determined by the agreement between the Greek, Turkish and British Governments, but perhaps he would like to know that these additional commitments which I have just mentioned are contracts which were placed under commitments previously entered into, and, therefore, I think we should complete them.

Mr. de Freitas

Is it not a fact that the Services, particularly the Royal Air Force, have spent enormous sums without having security of tenure? Surely it is time that this was seen in the perspective of overseas bases generally and not merely as a little local difficulty—to use another metaphor?

Mr. Watkinson

I am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman means. Does he mean that we should spend no more money in Cyprus or that we should go on with our planned programme?

Mr. G. Brown

Whatever the validity of the Minister's reply to his right hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Thorneycroft), how does it matter if the money is spent on commitments entered into some time previously if in fact we do not know, when we have spent the money, whether we shall be able to make use of the facilities we are building? It is that point that the Minister should answer.

Mr. Watkinson

I have already answered it. Our right to the base areas was clearly settled by the Zurich Agreement.

Mr. Brown

Is the right hon. Gentleman saying that, whatever the outcome of the discussions in Cyprus, the Government will enforce rights which they claim they have? Is he, therefore, announcing to the Cypriots that it does not really matter about these negotiations?

Mr. Watkinson

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman does not want to make difficult negotiations even more difficult. I said that it was in the interests of Cypriot unemployment that we should go on with the programme—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—certainly, and therefore we are implementing the commitments which we have entered into. That is perfectly right.