§ 3. Miss Fookesasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future of the military base in Malta after the ending of the present agreement in 1979.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThis matter will no doubt be discussed with the Malta Government and our NATO allies in due course; but I cannot pre-empt these discussions.
§ Miss FookesWould it not be prudent to be considering these arrangements in view of the relationship between ourselves and the Maltese Government?
§ Mr. GilmourHer Majesty's Government are extremely far-sighted, as everyone knows, but it is difficult to say exactly what will happen six years from now.