§ 25. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with defence measures in the Middle East for the protection of British interests in the event of a renewal of war between the Arab States and the State of Israel.
§ Mr. ShinwellI hope I get better luck with this Question than I did with No. 24.
§ Mr. HealeyI am sorry to dampen my right hon. Friend's hopes.
I am not prepared to speculate about hypothetical situations. It is in no one's interest that there should be another war.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs not that a hypothetical answer? What is the matter with my right hon. Friend? Is he unaware that the situation in the Middle East is highly inflammatory and that our interests may be assailed at some time? What is 396 to safeguard our interests? Has he any idea about that at all?
§ Mr. HealeyYes, Sir. I have many ideas about it, but, as my right hon. Friend will know, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is deeply engaged in the four-Power talks whose purpose is to try to bring a permanent settlement of the Middle East problem. I am certain that in this task he will have the support of both sides of the House, including my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. RipponDoes the Secretary of State sometimes consider that there may be a need for what is called contingency planning? Does he regard every military question as hypothetical? Whatever happened there, however hypothetical, what troops or forces should we have available?
§ Mr. HealeyThe right hon. and learned Gentleman, as so often, is confusing two completely different matters. My archives are stacked with contingency plans of all types, but I am no more prepared than any previous Minister of Defence to reveal them to the world at large. Answering hypothetical questions in the House is totally different from considering hypothetical contingencies, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman in 20 years' time, if he ever comes to occupy my post, may discover.
§ Mr. RankinHave we gone into Libya without assuming any commitments or proposing to assume any?
§ Mr. HealeyWe have a mutual defence treaty with Libya.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman take account of the overall situation in the Mediterranean? Remembering the facilities available at Malta, have there been any discussions with the Maltese Government with a view to retaining additional facilities which might be useful at a future date at very little cost?
§ Mr. HealeyNo, Sir, this question has not arisen.