HC Deb 17 July 1958 vol 591 cc126-7W
93. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the position of members of the Royal Air Force and their families stationed at Habbaniyah and elsewhere in Iraq.

Mr. Ward

The great majority of R.A.F. and Air Ministry personnel and their families in Iraq are at the Iraq Air Force Station, Habbaniya. Intermittent messages received up to mid-day yesterday, 16th July, indicated that they were safe and that the Iraqi Air Force and Army authorities, who are in control of the airfield, appeared to be under instructions to safeguard British lives and property. Since then no further messages have been received from Habbaniya.

So far as is known at present, the small number of personnel outside Habbaniya are safe. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said yesterday, H.M. Ambassador in Bagdad has received firm assurances from leaders of the authorities in control in Bagdad that the personal safety and property of British subjects in Iraq will be safeguarded. Every attempt is being made to obtain further news.