§ Lord Kilclooneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether vehicles, machinery and other assets were left for safe-keeping at the two sovereign bases in Cyprus by Turkish Cypriots in 1974; whether any of these assets were returned to Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus; and whether there are still Turkish Cypriot assets held for safe-keeping at the two bases. [HL4895]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)Vehicles, machinery and other items of personal property were left in the Western Sovereign Base Area by Turkish Cypriots when they were evacuated by air from RAF Akrotiri in January 1975. None of these items has been returned to Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus. Much of the property had to be destroyed on public health grounds as its condition deteriorated, but the majority of the vehicles, together with some agricultural machinery, are still held in a compound at British Forces Episkopi. A number of sporting weapons are also held in the armoury at RAF Akrotiri.