asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what was the gross cost annually during the years 1923–24 to 1928–29, and the estimated gross cost for 1929–30 and 1930–31 of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East Command (excluding Palestine, Transjordan and the Sudan), in Palestine and Transjordan, and in Iraq, respectively?

The Air Estimates and accounts prescribed for presentation to Parliament are not framed on a basis of territorial cost and consequently the full information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks is not already available and could be obtained only at the cost of an expenditure of labour and research which would not, I think, be justified. It is possible, however, to give figures for (a) Iraq and (b) Palestine and Transjordan for the financial years 1923–24 to 1927–28 as a result of the special accounting arrangements made in order to comply with the Parliamentary requirement that the cost of the Royal Air Force in those two commands should, during the years specified, be met from the Vote for Middle Eastern Services. The figures in question are: