§ Q2. Mr. Dickensasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's foreign and defence policies east of Suez in the light of recent developments.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer my hon. Friend to the detailed surveys of foreign and defence policy given by my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for Defence in the defence debate on 27th and 28th February and to the 1966 and 1967 Defence White Papers.
§ Mr. DickensNotwithstanding that reply, does not the Prime Minister feel that the time has now come for this country to reduce its defence commitments in South-East Asia in line with the official policy of the Labour Party? Will he not open negotiations with the Governments of Malaysia and Singapore accordingly?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend will be aware that the Secretary of State for Defence made clear to the House on 27th February that we have already brought home substantial forces from that area, and if my hon. Friend will study the supplementary answer I gave on the Thursday before the Recess, he will see that we are continuing, as a continuing project, to save resources not only in the total budget but on overseas expenditure by making maximum economies, with the maximum review of commitments possible.
§ Mr. TilneyWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is very much the wish of the people who are in Hong Kong to have enough of our defence forces remain in that territory to deal with internal disorders?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that everyone recognises the particular problem of Hong Kong and the dangers arising from threats to internal security.