§ 17. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement about the movement of British troops from Singapore to Mauritius.
§ Mr. ReynoldsA company of the 1st Battalion, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, stationed at Terendak in Malaysia, was dispatched from Singapore to Mauritius in three Hercules aircraft. The first of these left Singapore at 10.30 p.m. G.M.T. on 22nd January, and all three reached Mauritius during the afternoon of 23rd January. A fourth aircraft carrying two Sioux helicopters arrived early on 24th January. A fifth aircraft containing a platoon and a Sioux helicopter left Singapore on 5th February. I should like to pay tribute to all those concerned with this movement for their rapid and effective response. Since they arrived in Mauritius the company 1331 have assisted the local security forces by carrying out patrols and cordon and search operations.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkBut what will be the position over the movement of troops, say, at the request of Mauritius in future after we have left our overseas bases?
§ Mr. ReynoldsIf such a request were made, and if, under any agreement which applied then, we met it, we could still do so comparatively easily, but the response time would, of course, be somewhat longer.