§ 5. Mr. Sheldonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total balance of payments saving of not maintaining 1964 levels of military forces east of Suez in 1972.
§ The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Denis Healey)Something over £100 million a year.
§ Mr. SheldonIs not the large size of this sum of money a further indication of how right the Government were to take this most important decision in regard to our defence commitments?
§ Mr. HealeyIt is indeed, Sir, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. RipponWill the Secretary of State explain why the saving will be over £100 million a year, when at present it is only £70 million and the Government propose to keep substantial forces east of Suez?
§ Mr. HealeyYes, Sir. It is because I have already taken out of Southern Arabia and South-East Asia half of the forces which we found there under the policy of the previous Government in 1964, to which the Question refers. Had the right hon. and learned Gentleman read the Question, he would not have made such an irrelevant and damaging intervention to his own side.
§ 6. Mr. Sheldonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the rundown of military forces east of Suez.
§ 12. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the present programme for the rundown of the Singapore base, having regard to present military commitments in the Far East and to consultations with the Government of Singapore.
§ Mr. HealeyI would refer my hon. Friends to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1970 (Cmnd. 4290).
§ Mr. SheldonCan my right hon. Friend say when the closing down of this base will actively commence in view of the very large size and volume of stocks being held there? Can he say how this is to be run down?
§ Mr. HealeyAs I explained to the House last year, the handing over of the base has already begun. For example, the Singapore Government have already taken over the naval dockyard, and other facilities are being progressively transferred according to a programme agreed with the Singapore Government.
§ Mr. CroninWill my right hon. Friend take steps to accelerate the rundown of this base, bearing in mind that 387 it is now so unwieldy that it could serve no purpose in any commitment east of Suez, even in the wildest dreams of right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite?
§ Mr. HealeyAs I have explained on several occasions, we have agreed a programme for the rundown with the four Commonwealth Governments concerned. The Singapore Government have many economic interests in sticking to the pace of rundown as we have agreed it with them. I do not think that it would be right to change the programme that we have agreed.
§ Sir Ian Orr-EwingHas the Minister considered leaving some of the heavy equipment which will be necessary for the exercises being organised this year and in the future and will also be necessary for the general capability which we are assured that British forces will continue to have in the area?
§ Mr. HealeyI have considered it and decided against it, because the number of people required to maintain such heavy equipment would mean reconstituting facilities on whose disappearance the big financial savings depend.
§ Sir Ian Orr-EwingOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's answers, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.