Sir H. SAMUELasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what 486W has been the amount of expenditure from the British Exchequer in respect of Palestine and in respect of Trans-Jordan in each of the five years ending 1928–29.
§ Mr. LUNNThe information asked for by the right hon. Member is as follows:
Expenditure. — Palestine. Trans-Jordan. Trans-Jordan Frontier Force. £ £ £ 1924 834,319 14,850 — 1925 633,878 103,957 — 1926 322,211 66,000 94,421 1927 275,374 45,000 37,055 1928 Estimated 30,000 40,000 30,000 Expenditure on the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force has been shown separately as this Force is available for service in both Palestine and Trans-Jordan.
In 1927 Palestine contributed £31,000, and in 1928 £30,000, towards the cost of defence. The net expenditure in respect of Palestine for those years is therefore £244,374 and nil, respectively.
In addition, Palestine now pays five-sixths of the cost of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force.
The figure shown under Palestine in 1928, namely, £30,000, which is balanced by an equivalent appropriation-in-aid from Palestine Funds, represents the excess of the cost of the British Forces stationed in Palestine over the cost of such Forces if stationed in Great Britain, the normal cost being borne in Air Force Votes.