HC Deb 31 May 1967 vol 747 cc67-8
3. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the latest plans for withdrawing from Aden.

41. Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the latest plans for withdrawing British forces from Aden.

Mr. Healey

There is no change in our plans to withdraw from the Aden base when South Arabia achieves independence; the families are now coming home and we have begun to run down our stocks.

Mr. Marten

Surely, in the light of current events, and particularly of Russia's open support for Egypt, will not the Government have a defence arrangement with the Federal Government where British forces will remain in Aden for the maximum period after independence?

Mr. Healey

I fail to see how what is happening in May this year 1,000 miles to the north of Aden need affect our plans about what we do in Aden next year.

Mr. Stratton Mills

Is it not clear that whether or not there is a formal defence agreement with the South Arabian Federation, public opinion in Britain would not stand by and see external aggression reduce the Federation to a shambles? Would not the Minister confirm that there is, and must be, a de facto understanding that we would not let that situation happen?

Mr. Healey

Public opinion in Britain is interested in many things, including the reduction of our defence expenditure and the abolition of facilities in countries where, because of local opposition, we are not able to make use of them. On the broader aspects of the Aden question, as the House knows, it will have an opportunity shortly of debating the matter and I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will then be able to give further information on Her Majesty's Government's policy.

Mr. Colin Jackson

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that there has been no change in Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the withdrawal of British forces from Aden by 1968? Secondly, can he say whether there has been any change in the phased programme for the withdrawal of families?

Mr. Healey

There is no change whatever concerning families, and the withdrawal is well under way. It started at the beginning of this month and one-quarter have already been withdrawn. In reply to the earlier part of the question, there has been no change in Her Majesty's Government's policy.

Mr. Powell

Is the right hon. Gentleman seriously saying that in the Government's view the possibility of hostilities at the north end of the Red Sea is irrelevant to the presence of British forces in Southern Arabia?

Mr. Healey

I say that a crisis in the middle of 1967 is not relevant to what we may do in 1968.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

What is the Secretary of State doing about defending the families of other than Service personnel?

Mr. Healey

We shall continue to give protection to British civilians in Aden as long as our forces are there.