asked the Minister of Defence what defence expenditure was incurred in Cyprus from 1952 to 1963; and what is now the strategic purpose of maintaining a base in Cyprus.

About £200 million. The strategic purpose of the base remains as described in the Statement on Defence, 1962. Cyprus remains the main base for our air strike force in support of CENTO and for certain essential parts of our world-wide network of military communications.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what the British taxpayer has for this enormous expenditure of £200 million? Do we not now seem to have locked up a great deal of the British Army there with no very clear strategic purpose? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be a good thing if we handed the whole matter over to the United Nations?

If the hon. Gentleman will study the White Paper of 1962 he will see the arguments for it set out.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement about the recent change in the command of thy: British forces in Cyprus.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister yesterday in answer to a Question by the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley).

Does the Minister realise that this still does not explain why an officer who, by all reports, was doing, with the men under his command, an exceptionally good job in that theatre is suddenly relieved of his command after an implied rebuke to him from the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations in the House? Does he accept that this is hardly the way to inspire confidence and encourage our soldiers and officers who have been doing such good work in Cyprus?

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will read the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave. There is no reflection whatever on General Young. The commander of the British forces is neither General Young nor General Carver but Air-Chief Marshal Barnett, and there is fully room for two officers of general rank in Cyprus at the present time where our troops are under some pressure.

Is it not clear that an unfortunate muddle was made with this announcement? Would it not be far better to leave to the War Office announcements about Army commands and not have other Ministers stepping in to make them?

No, Sir; I do not think that any muddle was made about it. If there were any misunderstanding, I am happy to have cleared it up. I should now like to do what I am sure the whole House will approve, and that is to pay a tribute to the work which General Young has done.