HC Deb 28 October 1965 vol 718 cc350-1
Q4. Mr. Blaker

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the future of the British base at Singapore.

Mr. George Brown

I have been asked to reply.

Not until we have made further progress with the Defence Review and have had detailed discussions with Singapore and our other allies.

Mr. Blaker

Is our presence in the base at Singapore at present covered by any formal arrangement with the Government of Singapore?

Mr. Brown

Yes, indeed. In the course of the separation which has occurred this was taken account of by Singapore and ourselves and Malaysia. There is no problem here.

Mr. Heath

Is not it the case that a defence agreement has to be renegotiated with Singapore? Can the right hon. Gentleman say exactly what the position is on these negotiations? Have they started? If not, when are they likely to start? Is not it in the interests of both Singapore and ourselves that this matter should be pressed ahead?

Mr. Brown

When the separation occurred the position of the base was taken care of in the arrangements which were made between the two parties there and ourselves, and that remains protected by this arrangement.

Mr. Heath

I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to look at this matter again. Is not it the case that the well-known position is that the defence agreement with Singapore has to be renegotiated? I believe that it is in the interests of Singapore in the renegotiating of a defence agreement that the matter should be pressed ahead. Can I ask the right hon. Gentleman to look at it again? It is a highly technical matter.

Mr. Brown

I ask the right hon. Gentleman to look at it again. The legislation covering the separation of Singapore states specifically that the Government of Singapore will permit the Government of the United Kingdom to make such use of these bases and facilities as that Government may consider necessary for the purposes of assisting in the defence of Singapore and Malaysia and for Commonwealth defence and for the preservation of peace in South-East Asia. That was the position before and that is the position preserved in this arrangement. There is nothing now to look at.