Oman (Hansard, 21 March 1979)

§ 4. Mr. Temple-Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions on the security of the Gulf States took place with the Government of Oman during the recent visit by himself and the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Judd) to the Persian Gulf.

§ Dr. Owen
My hon. Friend had useful discussions with the Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Their talks dealt extensively with the security of the Gulf area.

§ Mr. Temple-Morris
Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that the situation in Iran could well become worse, and that in the light of that there are real security problems for Oman and the Gulf generally? For me Government merely to say, as has recently been said, mat they are willing to respond to calls for help is to act after the event. What many of us want is action now. Will the right hon. Gentleman say something about a positive contribution now to the problem?

§ Dr. Owen
I hope that the Government of Mr. Bazargan will be able to establish their authority across Iran. I hope that the recent trouble in West Iran will settle down. The countries of the region and the Gulf States are looking primarily to arrangements among themselves. However, they expect their friends—with some 1476 of whom we have a special relationship—to support them in every way they can. They know that they have our support and that if they ask for help in any way we shall look at the request sympathetically.

§ Mr. Frank Allaun
Will my right hon. Friend say whether Iranian troops are being withdrawn from Oman, and, if so, whether British troops will also be withdrawn? Will he assure the House that further British Service men on secondment there will not be increased to substitute for Iranian troops being withdrawn?

§ Dr. Owen
Iranian troops have been withdrawn from Oman. Loan Service personnel will stay there under a contractual term of service. They will remain there as long as they may be useful and add to the stability of the area.

§ Mr. Pym
In the light of the new and changed circumstances in the Gulf area, and indeed in the whole of the Middle East, and following the collapse of the CENTO alliance, are the Government engaged and committed now with the United States and our other NATO partners to rethinking our strategy in that region and to reviewing, in particular, the security of our oil supplies?
Will the Minister have discussions with the Leader of the House with a view to having a debate on this issue? In the light of all that has happened in the Middle East and the Gulf, and the future risks, would it not be advantageous for the House—and would not the House appreciate it—to have a debate on this subject in the near future?

§ Dr. Owen
I shall let my right hon. Friend know the suggestion that has been made. No one will deny that there have been momentous events in the Middle East. If time is available, I shall welcome the opportunity for such a discussion.
As to a review of all our policies, it is necessary to look again closely at some of the changes and consequences for Iran. However, that does not mean that we should, for example, reassert a British presence in the Gulf area. I do not believe that that raises in any way the wisdom of the decision to come out of the Gulf or Aden, as it then was. I do not believe that we should have that direction in any review. If it is to see how we may work 1477 with the Arab States as friends and partners for regional security, I think that we should do that—and we are doing it.