§ 67. Mr. Wiggasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what charges have fallen on his Department's Estimate for the current financial year in respect of supplies and services made available to French forces during and preceding the recent Middle Eastern operations and what arrangements have been made for recovery.
§ Mr. SoamesApproximately £17,000, excluding the cost of certain supplies and services provided to French salvage vessels since the cease-fire. Claims for refund of these costs are being made against the French authorities in the normal way.
§ 68. Mr. Lewisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what action he took to warn British shipping to avoid using the Suez Canal prior to Britain's armed conflict with Egypt; and whether he will publish in HANSARD full details of instructions sent to British shipping companies and merchant officers, together with dates of such instructions.
§ Mr. SoamesBritish merchant ships were advised, by an Admiralty message broadcast on 30th October, to keep clear of the Suez Canal and Egyptian and 45W Israeli waters until further notice. No instructions were sent by the Government to shipping companies and merchant officers.