HC Deb 14 January 1971 vol 809 cc250-1
29. Mr. George Thomson

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest round of talks in Singapore on future five-Power defence arrangements in the area.

Lord Balniel

Senior officials of the five Commonwealth countries met at Singapore on 7th and 8th January to prepare for a meeting of Ministers in London this spring to discuss five-Power defence arrangements. Good progress was made. In particular, the officials agreed upon the political framework for these arrangements when the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement is terminated, which will now be recommended to their respective Governments. Other matters agreed for submission to Ministers included future arrangements for regular five-Power consultation and the setting up of an Air Defence Council to be responsible for the functioning of the Integrated Air Defence System.

Mr. Thomson

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that statement. Can he say whether the officials were able to agree a document to replace the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Treaty? Can he also say whether the Government of Malaysia have agreed to five-Power arrangements for the Jungle Warfare Training School inside Malaysia?

Lord Balniel

The recommendations made by officials to Ministers are private and, as they affect other Governments, I do not think that it would be right to refer to them until the spring meeting. As regards the Jungle Warfare Training School, we have agreed, in consultation with the other Governments, to continue the school until the end of this year. It will then be transferred to the Malaysian Government, who will hold discussions with the other four countries about meeting their needs for jungle warfare training.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Will my right hon. Friend, in his discussions with the Malaysian Government, insist that the Jungle Warfare Training School should continue to be run by the Gurkhas who are doing it so ably, as I saw last year, and also that it should continue to be available to all the five Powers concerned in the defence of Singapore and the Far East?

Lord Balniel

I do not think that it would be right for the Government in their discussions with the Malaysian Government to insist on what course of action they should pursue, but we have impressed on them the importance to Commonwealth forces of this Jungle Warfare Training Centre, and they are well aware of its importance.

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