HC Deb 17 June 1971 vol 819 cc617-8
7. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of British troops now in Singapore.

Lord Balniel

Members of the three Services, including Gurkhas and locally enlisted forces, stationed in Singapore on 1st June, 1971, numbered about 16,000. This figure includes personnel serving at sea.

Mr. Dalyell

With a presence like this in Singapore, are we as a country not in a position to talk to Lee Kwan Yew seriously about the deep feelings among many people in this country over his internal policies towards political prisoners, with a possible view to withdrawal?

Lord Balniel

The hon. Gentleman will recognise that this falls outside the remit of my Departmental responsibilities. I will, however, call the point to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.