HC Deb 16 November 1966 vol 736 cc424-5
24. Mr. Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why, now that confrontation has ended, out of 50,000 Service men in Malaysia only 10,000 are to be brought home by April, 1967, and a small number later; what is the purpose of retaining the majority in that country; how they will be occupied; and if he will reconsider the question of their return to Great Britain.

Mr. Healey

The peak figure of 50,000 covered Singapore as well as Malaysia, and included the crews of the Far East fleet and the bulk of the Brigade of Gurkhas. To bring back home much more than 10,000 men by April, 1967, would cause much waste, disruption and personal hardship. I am not ready to say how many will be brought home thereafter, but there is no authority for my hon. Friend's assumption that the number will be small.

Mr. Allaun

As my right hon. Friend has given an indication that it will be half that number, is one reason for continuing this vast overseas drain on men and money the wish of Washington, publicly stated by Mr. MacNamara and others?

Mr. Healey

I must tell my hon. Friend that that conclusion is based on another false assumption. The further reduction in forces whom we will bring home from the Far East may be as high as the original figure of 10,000, but I am not prepared at present to say precisely what the number will be.

Mr. Powell

Has the right hon. Gentleman a treaty in existence under which these forces will be retained in Singapore?

Mr. Healey

No, Sir, although under the terms of the secession agreement between Singapore and Malaysia, Singapore undertook to carry out the obligations which that country held as part of the Federation of Malaysia.

Mr. Powell

But is it not highly unsatisfactory that these forces should remain in Singapore without proper treaty cover?

Mr. Healey

I have made the position quite clear; that, from the point of view of the forces themselves, treaty cover is provided in a satisfactory form by the undertaking of the Singapore Government. However, our own reciprocal obligation has not been defined and I hope that it will be possible to do so at a later stage.