§ Mr. WAKEFIELDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the removal of the naval base in the Persian Gulf from Henjam to Bahrein will involve any considerable expenditure at the latter place?
Mr. LINDSAYI am glad of this opportunity of informing the House of what is contemplated at Bahrein, as the decision to evacuate Henjam was not reached in time to enable the usual provision to be made in the Navy Estimates. No expenditure is expected to be incurred at Bahrein except for the provision of storage and recreational facilities on a moderate scale and certain navigational aids. Part of the material 1145W is being sent from England and local work is being undertaken by the Bahrein Government on our behalf. In these circumstances, my hon. Friend will appreciate that I cannot at present give a final estimate of the cost, but I do not expect that the total amount will exceed £23,000, a considerable part of which will be spent in this country. This does not include the cost of the land already purchased at Bahrein for £4,476.