HL Deb 19 November 1969 vol 305 cc913-4

2.45 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

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 what were the conclusions of the Five Power conference on the defence of Malaysia and Singapore.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, R.A.F.(LORI)WINTERBOTTOM)

My Lords, my noble friend the Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House made a full statement on July 2 about the conclusions of the Five Power Conference on Far East Defence held in Canberra on June 19 and 20. Officials of the five countries represented at the Canberra Conference met in Kuala Lumpur from November 4 to 6. They examined at some length the requirements of an air defence system and agreed upon the vital need for the various elements to be knitted together. The officials also considered a number of matters affecting naval co-operation. Material progress was made in both these areas which will enable further detailed work to proceed in the joint-service and single-service Advisory Working Groups and facilitate the further study of a number of matters by the five Governments. The meeting was also briefed on the good progress made with the planning of the Joint Commonwealth Exercise in 1970.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that very full reply, I should like to ask him this question. Does not this new Agreement rather complicate the position of defence in South-East Asia? Does it not overlap with SEATO? In view of the irrelevance of SEATO in all the recent situations in Indo-China, and the indifference in Pakistan, has not the time come to discuss whether the continuation of SEATO in this complicated situation is still necessary?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, if the noble Lord wishes to know about SEATO, I suggest that he puts down a Question on the subject.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that some of us have just come back from Malaya and Singapore, and that I hope that, when we evacuate that area in 1971, the British Government will always make a defence programme to help those people, because of the infiltration of Communism from the Thailand border?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his helpful comments.