§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Defence the estimated total cost of the recent military intervention in Egypt.
§ Mr. HeadAs my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in the debate on the Address on 12th November, the estimated additional74W expenditure upon military arrangements during the current financial year is between £35 million and £50 million.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Defence why the original D-Day in the Egyptian campaign, timed to commence at dawn on Tuesday, 6th November, was advanced; and why paratroops were dropped on Monday, 5th November.
§ Mr. HeadThe landing of the Commando Brigade at Port Said took place on 6th November as planned. Paratroops were dropped twenty-four hours beforehand in order to minimise destruction of property and life. Their brilliant success enabled us to dispense with preliminary bombardment, which would inevitably have inflicted heavy casualties and damage.