HC Deb 15 October 1969 vol 788 cc377-8
3. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of withdrawal of forces from the Middle and Far East.

Mr. Healey

I refer the hon. Member to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1969—Command 3927. Good progress is being made.

Mr. Marten

On the Middle East, can the Secretary of State say how far the leaders are getting on with their joint force, and, turning to the Far East, is he satisfied that there will be stability in the Malaysian Peninsula to enable us to withdraw from a military point of view rather than the political point of view?

Mr. Healey

As to the Middle East, progress on the political side has been satisfactory and we hope that it will be possible for the new defence forces of the Union of Arab Emirates to absorb the Trucial Oman Scouts. This has not yet been finally decided. As to international stability, progress in the five-power Commonwealth talks was very satisfactory this summer. There are problems of internal stability which must be the concern of us all but which are not the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government.