HC Deb 02 August 1966 vol 733 cc248-9
Q4. Viscount Lambton

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Minister Resident for the Middle East.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Viscount Lambton

Would the Prime Minister not agree that if he made this appointment he would give himself an opportunity of practising the economy which he is now preaching? Would he not further agree that if he wished in the future to make and break pledges to South Arabian countries, he could do so through the medium of one man and not involve the honour of half of the Cabinet, as he did over the pledges given to Aden?

The Prime Minister

I thought, mistakenly, that the noble Lord was on a serious point, instead of that carefully-rehearsed and polished supplementary question that we have just heard. There has been no question of breaking pledges, in the Middle East or elsewhere. The Question asks about the appointment of a Minister Resident for the Middle East. There was the strongest case for this in wartime, when communications between the United Kingdom and the Middle East were difficult, but there is no case for it now.

Lord Balniel

In the light of the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, following the bombing of South Arabian territory last week, can the Prime Minister say whether the capital allocation of £5½ million to South Arabian defence is designed to cover air defence?

The Prime Minister

I would need notice of the exact relationship to the £5½ million. We are certainly involved with the South Arabian Government in all matters of defence, including helping them to meet their own liabilities so far as any attacks are concerned. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the appointment of a Minister Resident would not have been likely to stop what happened yesterday.

Mr. Heath

Is the Prime Minister aware that the £5½ million is the key question? Is he further aware that the Foreign Secretary said yesterday that this was going to provide sufficient money for the air defence of the Federation against attacks by MIGs such as it has recently suffered? Would the Prime Minister look at this question speedily and recognise the view of the Federation that this is entirely inadequate to provide sufficient air defence by 1968?

The Prime Minister

It is always the view of anyone to whom we are giving money that we are not giving them enough. I will certainly look at this in relation to the air defence side as opposed to the military training on the ground side, with which we were principally concerned.