§ Sir R. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give, in round figures, the total expenditure on bases in the Middle East since 1945, including those in the Negeb, the Canal Zone, Kenya, Libya, Jordan, and Cyprus, and the estimated value of the buildings, stores, and equipment which have been abandoned.
§ Mr. John HareI regret that records from 1945 are not available in this particular form. When British forces are withdrawn from a base overseas, their buildings and stores are not abandoned. They may be sold or handed over to the National Government by agreed settlement. Some equipment is taken away for use elsewhere. Assets in the Canal Zone are still the subject of negotiations with the Egyptian Government.