3. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Minister of Defence the total cost to the Exchequer of transporting Service personnel to Christmas Island for the recent tests, the number of troopships and other vessels used, and the number and cost of air trooping together with a statement showing the average cost per head of all personnel transported there and back.
§ Mr. SandysExcluding the personnel of operational squadrons who flew in squadron aircraft, 2,888 personnel have been sent to Christmas Island for the recent series of tests. Except for 130 who were transported in the troopship "Empire Clyde" from Honolulu to Christmas Island, all made the journey by air in Transport Command aircraft, charter aircraft or commercial civil airlines.
The number carried on commercial flights was 990 to Honolulu across the Atlantic and U.S.A.
So far, 802 men have returned from Christmas Island. All have travelled by air in Transport Command or chartered aircraft except for 40 who have returned by commercial aircraft.
The average cost per head of air transport from the U.K. to Christmas Island is £220. The total cost of air transport was £810,000. As only a few men travelled by sea for a single stage of the journey, no average cost by sea can be assessed.