HC Deb 13 July 1976 vol 915 cc358-9
16. Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of continuing to station United Kingdom forces in Cyprus other than those on United Nations duty.

Mr. Wellbeloved

The budgetary cost of our forces in Cyprus is estimated to be £36 million in 1976–77.

Mr. Cohen

Will my hon. Friend tell the House the foreign exchange costs? In the light of an earlier reply given by the Secretary of State about the question of withdrawal of troops, will my hon. Friend say what proposals or plans the Government have in mind for the withdrawal of United Kingdom troops from Cyprus?

Mr. Wellbeloved

The foreign exchange costs at present run at about £28 million. We have no plans for the withdrawal of British forces from the Sovereign base areas in Cyprus. The United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations force is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and other Ministers, who would have to make an assessment before I could give my hon. Friend an effective reply.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that any sudden withdrawal of British forces from the Sovereign base areas would be a breach of an undertaking and calculated to start a terrible bloodbath between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots?

Mr. Wellbeloved

It would not be helpful for me to speculate on a matter which is not even under consideration by the Government. There are no plans for the withdrawal of British forces from the Sovereign base areas in Cyprus.

Mr. Christopher Price

Will my hon. Friend confirm that there is no question under treaty of the British Government giving up the sovereign base areas in Cyprus unless we first hand them over to the legitimate Government of the Republic of Cyprus?

Mr. Wellbeloved

I can hardly foresee any circumstances in which, if the British Government were contemplating a withdrawal from Cyprus, they would wish to hand over the sovereign base areas to any authority other than the Government of the Republic of Cyprus; but all these matters are for my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, not for me.