HC Deb 13 November 1968 vol 773 cc403-4
42. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will propose to the Government of Sweden the holding of joint exercises for international peacekeeping with the armed forces of Sweden.

Mr. Healey

As my hon. Friend will know, United Kingdom and Swedish forces are serving together in the U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. The United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations is examining U.N. peacekeeping arrangements and I should prefer to await the outcome of that examination before considering what might be the best steps for us to take next.

Mr. Hooley

While I welcome the generally encouraging tone of that reply, would not my right hon. Friend agree that it is important if we are to make progress in any international peacekeeping to have regular experiments and exercises between this country and friendly nations?

Mr. Healey

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. We have made this proposal in our own submission to the United Nations Peacekeeping Committee. I hope very much that it will be accepted by other members.