HC Deb 08 June 1971 vol 818 cc859-60
Q5. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to Brunei.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no plans to do so.

Mr. Dalyell

On his way to or from Australia at Christmas, would the Prime Minister stop off to discuss with the Asian Governments whether there are more important and urgent things for the British Government to do in Asia than to prop up the Sultan of Brunei?

The Prime Minister

As I explained to the hon. Gentleman when he last asked a Question about this matter before the recess, there have been consultations with the Sultan of Brunei and we have reached an agreement which is to be signed later in the year. I have had talks with many Asian Governments while I was Leader of the Opposition and since I have been Prime Minister. This is not a question which any of them has raised. Perhaps the explanation is that we are already doing a great deal to help the Commonwealth Governments in Asia.

Mr. Tapsell

Is it not a fact that Brunei has long been in treaty relationship with us, that it is in an important strategic area, and that we have very large oil investments there? Therefore, is it not a country with which we should maintain the closest possible friendly relations?

The Prime Minister

That is so. In addition, we have arrangements under the Five-Power Commonwealth agreement to help Malaysia, which is a neighbour of Brunei.

Mr. Hattersley

Would the Prime Minister clarify a point which was not made clear to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) when he last asked the Question; namely, the difference between the present Government's attitude and the previous Government's attitude when a previous treaty was negotiated? On a previous occasion my right hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley) made it clear that the treaty involved undertakings from the Brunei Government to move towards genuinely democratic institutions. Is that part of the new treaty?

The Prime Minister

As I understand it, under the previous Administration—and obviously the papers are a matter for them—no progress was made on that point, which was raised by the previous Administration, and it was then dropped.