§ Q7. Mr. Francis Noel-Bakerasked the Prime Minister what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the territories in the Persian Gulf with whose rulers the United Kingdom has special relationships; and which aspects of that policy are the responsibility of the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Defence or of any other Government Department.
§ The Prime MinisterThe main responsibility for co-ordinating policy rests with the Foreign Office, but the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Overseas Development are also closely involved in matters of concern to them.
As to the policy of Her Majesty's Government, I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the foreign affairs debate on 20th July, 1967.—[Vol. 750, c. 2494.]
§ Mr. Noel-BakerCan my right hon. Friend now be more specific and say what plans are being made for a final withdrawal from this area? Can he give an assurance that the lessons of Aden and South Arabia have been learned and that the same tragic mistakes will not be repeated'?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that there is anything that can be added at this stage to what was said by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the debate on these matters last July. There has been no change in the situation since then. Of course, since then we have carried out, with the full support of this side of the House at any rate, a very successful operation in withdrawing from Aden. If anything is to be learned from that in relation to other parts of the world, we are willing to learn it.
§ Mr. Hugh FraserSurely the Prime Minister should, following Aden and in view of the problems which are facing this country, look at an alternative and cheaper route to the Far East. Will he get his defence people to look at the question of another route across the Pacific, which is what they should be doing now?
§ The Prime MinisterNaturally these things have been done. They were done 1666 Even before the right hon. Gentleman got up to put his question. I have nothing to add, as to the results of this matter, to what was said by the Foreign Secretary in July or by the Secretary of State for Defence last week.
§ Mr. LubbockIs it not a wicked and unjustifiable waste of taxpayers' money for us to build up our forces in the Persian Gulf at a time when Government expenditure is being cut in every other direction? Will he reverse this foolish policy and withdraw our forces from the Persian Gulf before they are forced to withdraw by nationalism?
§ The Prime MinisterThis small extra expenditure in this area is part of the bigger saving in the Middle East as a whole, as represented by the Aden withdrawal. I do not think that, by way of question and answer, we can now go over all the issues which were fully debated in July.
§ Mr. MayhewHow can my right hon. Friend consider it right for us to borrow huge sums abroad in somewhat humiliating circumstances and yet continue to build up our military presence in this area at a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend has widened the attack on this Question. He will be aware, from what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I have said, that the money which is being borrowed is a standby for the success of the operation of devaluation and not money to live on, whether for military or any other form of consumption.
§ Mr. HeathWill the right hon. Gentleman publish the undertakings which have been given to the Governments in the Gulf consequent on our withdrawal from Aden?
§ The Prime MinisterI will discuss that with my right hon. Friend. I should like to consider the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion.