HC Deb 22 June 1960 vol 625 cc389-90
2. Mr. Brockway

asked the Minister of Defence if British troops will be withdrawn from Malaya on 31st July when the 12-year state of emergency is to be ended.

15. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of of Defence if he proposes maintaining United Kingdom military forces in Malaya at their present strength after the ending of the emergency on 31st July, 1960.

The Minister of Defence (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom welcome the announcement by the Government of the Federation of Malaya that the state of emergency is formally to end, but this will make no difference to the present arrangements under which, by virtue of the Defence Agreement concluded with the Federation Government in 1957, United Kingdom forces are stationed in their territory.

Mr. Brockway

While I am sure the whole House will agree with the right hon. Gentleman in welcoming the end of the emergency, could he explain the reason for retaining British troops in Malaya? The jungle warfare is over. Is there some other reason? Is it not a fact that Malaya is not a party to the S.E.A.T.O. Agreement? Why should British troops be there?

Mr. Watkinson

The answer is quite simple. First of all, there are some border security operations in which the Malayan Government wish to have our help. Also, there is the general problem of the external defence of Malaya, which is covered by the Agreement which I cited.

Mr. Rankin

As the troops are being maintained because of the 1957 Agreement, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the 50,000 troops we have now in Malaya was 50,000 in 1957? Was not the figure then less? If it was less, why should we not revert at least to the 1957 number?

Mr. Watkinson

The hon. Gentleman knows that one never quotes these numbers—from my point of view anyway. He may have his own views on the subject.

Mr. Wigg

Perhaps I might help the right hon. Gentleman. He is obviously in some difficulty in giving a figure. Is it not true that there are nothing like 50,000 troops there, because we have not go 50,000 troops to go anywhere?