HC Deb 18 December 1968 vol 775 cc1353-4
3. Mr. Colin Jackson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the run down of British forces in the Persian Gulf.

5. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he now estimates the withdrawal from the Gulf will start and be completed.

52. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state to what extent British forces are being reduced in the Persian Gulf.

Mr. Healey

The withdrawal of British forces from the Persian Gulf will be completed by the end of 1971. Initial steps to effect this withdrawal are already being taken.

Mr. Jackson

Can the Secretary of State say what part he believes the Trucial Oman Scouts may play as British forces are run down?

Mr. Healey

I hope very much that the Trucial Oman Scouts will play some role in the forces of the units of the Arab Emirates.

Mr. Marten

If the Gulf States are not properly organised defence-wise by the time withdrawal is due to be completed, have the Government got a contingency plan till such time as they are properly organised?

Mr. Healey

The British Government do not intend to maintain commitments in this part of the world after our withdrawal is concluded by the end of 1971.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Is the Secretary of State aware that I found in the Gulf this autumn that the keenest supporters of the Government's policy for withdrawal are the ordinary Service men, separated as they are from their families [Interruption.]—this is an absolute fact which can be confirmed—and that they say, and I ask, why wait three years if we are to move?

Mr. Healey

The Government believe that we must give the local countries, particularly those to which we have present commitments, some opportunity to reorganise their forces before our withdrawal. I am glad to say that this was very well reported, if I may say so, in an article in last Sunday's Sunday Times —that more progress has been made in the last nine months towards reaching a viable political arrangement in the Gulf than had been made in the last twenty years.

Mr. Ramsden

The Secretary of State did not really answer the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten). Is not the position this, that if successful arrangements for local defence are concluded between the Sheikhdoms we may or we may not have a title to stay, but if they are not concluded the Government will certainly be obliged to stay?

Mr. Healey

I have already made it clear that the Government have reached agreement with the Ruler of Kuwait on the termination of the British defence arrangement.