§ 33. Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to the United Kingdom Government of keeping each British Service man in the Persian Gulf.
§ Mr. HattersleyLocal defence expenditure per British Service man stationed in the Persian Gulf is about £1,500 a year.
§ Mr. PardoeCould the Minister give an estimate of the likely effect on this figure of the recent pay increases to the Forces? Does he think that the cost per serving man is good value for money for the British taxpayer?
§ Mr. HattersleyThe overall increase—give or take a percentage, because of expenditure which is recouped—will reflect the average increases in pay in general—something like 18 per cent. this year. The question of the general merits of the investment has been debated on many occasions in this House, and may be debated again today and tomorrow.
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportI am sorry that the Secretary of State himself is not answering my supplementary question—[Interruption.]—and you will laugh on the other side of your faces when you hear what I have to say—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportI am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I was only—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. and gallant Member must ask a question.
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportDo Her Majesty's Government intend to take any steps to discount the lies outside this House of ex-Communists and fellow travellers—like the hon. Member who has just laughed—to the effect that a Conservative Government intend to maintain a presence in the Far East by conscription when we govern this country?
§ Mr. HattersleyI am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I did not expect that the House wanted a serious answer.