COMMONWEALTH PRIME MINISTERS' MEETING

HC Deb 16 July 1970 vol 803 cc1719-20

Q2. Mr. Sheldon

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the Far East.

The Prime Minister

I shall be attending the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Meeting in Singapore in January.

Mr. Sheldon

As a result of the previous Administration's policy, the dispositions of our forces in the Far East will result in a net run-down of forces, which, in the absence of any instruction to the contrary, will continue. Has any contrary instruction been given?

The Prime Minister

As I explained in the House on Tuesday, the number of our forces in the Far East is much greater than we visualise remaining there under the five-Power force. The Secretary of State for Defence is going to the Far East in the last week of this month to have discussions with the other four Commonwealth Powers involved about the make-up of the force and, naturally, he and his advisers will then be able to settle the future dispositions.