§ 26. Rear-Admiral Morgan Gilesasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships of the Royal Navy are employed in the maintenance of the Beira Patrol.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan GilesDoes not the Minister know that that is not the whole answer, and that, owing to the distance from Singapore, at least six ships are employed on this patrol? Will he make representations to the Prime Minister that we should discontinue this patrol in support of a sanctions policy which has clearly failed?
§ Mr. FoleyOn the first part of that supplementary question, I am sure that the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that it is not the custom to give details of fleet deployments. I utterly reject the second part.
§ Mr. PagetWill my hon. Friend confirm that this patrol is based on Simons-town and takes place by kind permission of the South African Government?
§ Mr. FoleyI am happy to disabuse my hon. and learned Friend's mind of that. It is not based on Simonstown, and it does not take place with the consent of the South African Government.
§ Mr. RamsdenDoes not the Minister's answer mean that we are bearing entirely by ourselves a burden which ought in equity to be borne jointly with other members of the United Nations?
§ Mr. FoleyWe are carrying the burden described in the United Nation Resolution, and carrying it willingly.