§ 38. Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence, whether, in view of the renewed hostilities in the Middle East, he will now reconsider his decision to withdraw all British Forces from the Gulf after 1971.
§ Mr. HealeyNothing has happened which makes it necessary to reconsider the decision to withdraw our Forces from the Persian Gulf by the end of 1971.
§ Mr. GoodhewDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that he might now make amends for his rather insulting broadcast, and accept the offer of the Sheikhs there to pay for some of our presence there, in view of the continuing unsettled state?
§ Mr. HealeyThe hon. Gentleman is making a habit today of asking supplementary questions which have nothing to do with the initial Question. I will say again, as I and my colleagues have said before, that the offer which has been made by some of the Governments in the Gulf is not sufficient reason to cause us to reconsider our decision.
§ Sir T. BeamishDoes the right hon. Gentleman share the view of the right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. George Brown) that our withdrawal from the Gulf is dangerously fast?
§ Mr. HealeyNo, Sir.