HC Deb 01 March 1967 vol 742 cc506-7
50. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the cuts made in United Kingdom defence expenditure in Aden will be made in the next two years.

Mr. Healey

Nearly all of it.

Mr. Goodhart

Is it proposed that British officers should still be seconded to the South Arabian Federal Forces after 1968? Will we still be making the very substantial contribution which we make at present to the East Aden Protectorate Forces, such as the Hadrumati Bedouin Legion?

Mr. Healey

All British forces will be withdrawn after independence, as has been made clear to the House in the defence debate, but, of course, very substantial financial assistance is being given to the Federal Government to enable it to equip and train forces of its own.

Mr. Francis Noel-Baker

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the only basis on which British troops could remain in the Federation or in Aden in future is as participants in a United Nations force?

Mr. Healey

There is a great deal in what my hon. Friend says.