HL Deb 31 May 1961 vol 231 c806
LORD NATHAN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many soldiers, and of what rank, have taken part in exploring or mountaineering expeditions, such as the 1959 Joint Services Expedition in the Himalayas, and how much money has been contributed from the Exchequer for such purposes.]

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, the only two Service-sponsored expeditions in recent years were those to Chitral in 1959 and to Annapurna in 1960. On the Chitral expedition, two majors, four captains, two subalterns and one sergeant took part, at an extra cost to the Exchequer of £1,970. On the Annapurna expedition, one lieutenant colonel, one major, one captain and one subaltern took part, at no extra cost to public funds.

LORD NATHAN

My Lords, should I be correct in assuming that the reason why no expenditure occurred out of public funds was that on this occasion, unlike previous occasions, the Treasury refused to find funds?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think that might be a reasonable surmise.