§ 29. Mr. Allasonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Gurkha Brigade.
§ Mr. ReynoldsI have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said during his statement on public expenditure on 16th January.— [Vol. 756, c. 1583.]
§ Mr. AllasonI was hoping that the Minister might have had second thoughts about this. Can he say if there will be compensating aid to Nepal to make good the severe losses to the Nepalese economy which will result from these cuts? I there is to be this aid, will the saving in overseas currency be commensurate with the severe loss of fighting power which these cuts will represent to our forces?
§ Mr. ReynoldsWe are compensating individual Gurkhas for loss of career Vol. 758 1338 prospects in the Gurkha Brigade. The question of economic aid to the Kingdom of Nepal should be addressed to my right hon. Friend concerned with that matter. There is no direct link between the military capability we would require and the compensation we would have to pay for running down the Gurkha Brigade. The military capability is linked to the commitments we have in the area.
§ Mr. LiptonIs my hon. Friend aware that the Nepalese Government are quite willing for the Gurkha Brigade to be disbanded because they have reached the stage when they do not want to hire out their subjects as mercenaries to other powers?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI think that there is a feeling of this nature in the Kingdom of Nepal. However, I have had discussions—and there is agreement on this—with Ministers in the Government of Nepal about the present rundown. It is clear that we have not gone beyond 1971 in these discussions, as was announced by my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. RamsdenDoes not the form of the announcement, which carries the Government's policies up to 1971, inevitably place a grave question mark over the future of the Hong Kong garrison? Ought not this question mark to be removed, even if the present Government may not anticipate being in control of events in 1971?
§ Mr. ReynoldsThere is not necessarily any direct interaction between the two points. The announcement was to continue the rundown to a figure of about 6,000 men by 1971. I wish to make it clear that no decisions beyond that date have at present been taken.
§ Mr. GoodhartIs the hon. Gentleman aware of reports alleging that a firm decision has already been taken to wind up the entire Gurkha Brigade by 1974? Would he care to categorically deny that?
§ Mr. ReynoldsNo decisions have been taken beyond the date announced in the House, which was the end of 1971.
§ 34. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence where the depot of the Gurkha Brigade will be sited following the withdrawal from Malaysia and Singapore.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe present depots of the Brigade of Gurkhas will be retained at Paklihawa and Dharan in Nepal. The training depot in Malaysia may move to Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that if the depot is moved to Hong Kong recruitment will be made more difficult and that the assimilation of families there will be more complicated? What talks has he had with the Nepalese Government about these two important matters, particularly if the Gurkha Brigade is to continue after 1971?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI merely said that the training depot in Malaysia might move to Hong Kong. No decision has yet been taken. Recruitment is dealt with at Paklihawa and Dharan, in Nepal.
§ Mr. RamsdenWould the hon. Gentleman confirm what he failed to say in reply to an earlier Question; that it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government fully to maintain the Hong Kong garrison after 1971?
§ Mr. ReynoldsI think I am right in saying that our intention to maintain that garrison was emphasised by my right hon. Friend in his statement of 16th January. If, by chance, it was not, I emphasise it now.