HL Deb 14 October 1968 vol 296 cc1131-2

2.39 p.m.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any information regarding a report that the Government of India are proposing to grant facilities to the Government of the U.S.S.R. for the establishment of bases in the Andaman Islands.]

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, we have no such information. However, the Indian Minister of Defence confirmed at the beginning of April that India intended to set up a naval base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and he subsequently stated that India had no intention of giving facilities for the establishment of bases to the Soviet or to any other country.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reassuring reply, may I ask him whether there is any evidence to show that it is the Russian intention to build up a naval presence in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean, as well as in the Eastern Mediterranean?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, there has been an increase in Soviet naval ships in the Indian Ocean but we have not taken the view so far that this is to establish a very large naval capability.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord.