asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether at Northolt airfield, or any other British airfield, there is provided adequate protection for foreign aircraft there accommodated; and whether there has been any instance where the foreign country owning such aircraft has provided armed guards for their protection without reference to the British authorities in charge of such airfields.

All aircraft, British or foreign, are under the protection of the airport police at all civil airports in the United Kingdom. It would not be exceptional for foreign aircraft carrying diplomatic passengers also to be guarded by members of their own crew, whether armed or not.

Is it not a new situation in this country for a foreign Power to bring an armed guard here?

No, Sir, it is not new. The last occasion on which it happened was in connection with an aircraft belonging to the President of the United States which brought the American Secretary of State to the Foreign Ministers Conference. In that particular case two members of the crew, armed with automatic pistols, formed a guard. That was in October, 1947.

Would the hon. Gentleman point out to our friends in the United States that it is quite unnecessary to bring people to guard their aircraft on British airfields?

Would my hon. Friend explain to the House how two men managed continually to guard an aeroplane?

These are generally military aircraft. It is not unusual in military aircraft for members of the crew, at various times, to form a guard over their aircraft.

Could not my hon. Friend point out to the representatives of that country that they are coming to a civilised country where that sort of thing is unnecessary?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in what circumstances a guard of armed Russian soldiers was mounted over Russian aircraft at Northolt Aerodrome.

So far as I am aware, no such armed guard has been mounted on these aircraft.

In view of the previous answer of the Parliamentary Secretary given to a similar Question, in which he said it was the practice, or had been the practice, for the armed crew of an aircraft to be put on guard over foreign aircraft, why is it that these members of the guard were put on board specially?

In reply to the previous Question I said it was not unusual for an aircraft to be put under an armed guard.

Could the Minister say why some hon. Members of this House are so touchy about Russia guarding her own property in this country?

Is it disputed that there was an armed guard over this aircraft?

There was no armed guard, and no snow on their boots either.