HC Deb 24 January 1962 vol 652 cc177-8
4. Mr. Paget

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement about the arrangements which were made for transferring troops to the Middle East in December.

Mr. Ramsden

The arrangements involved less than 30 soldiers.

Mr. Paget

That seems to be a rather surprising Answer. Was the announcement that leave had been cancelled, that people were standing by and the general alarm purely newspaper invention?

Mr. Ramsden

No, Sir. But there was no additional cost to Army funds.

Mr. Paget

I am not asking whether there was an increase to Army funds. We heard that there was a danger of war breaking out at any moment in this area, that leave had been stopped and that something which was not far from mobilisation had taken place. Cannot the Under-Secretary of State be a little more forthcoming and tell us what happened?

Mr. Ramsden

The hon. and learned Gentleman is quite right. Certain precautionary measures were taken, including the despatch of a small number of specialists from this country. I repeat that there was no extra cost to Army funds.

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