HL Deb 23 November 1977 vol 387 cc848-9
Lord BROCKWAY

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether vessels of the Royal Navy are to participate in a joint maritime exercise in the Indian Ocean and, if so, what other navies are participating.

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, ships of a Royal Navy Task Group have just taken part in a joint maritime exercise in the Indian Ocean with our CENTO allies. As well as the Royal Navy, the navies of the United States, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan were involved. The Task Group is shortly due to conduct exercises with the United States and Australian navies as it crosses the Indian Ocean en route for the Far East and Australia.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, is not this action rather provocative? In view of the statement made by the President of the United States of America that he is in favour of the demilitarisation of the Indian Ocean and is prepared to undertake substantial withdrawals from Diego Garcia, would it not be better for Her Majesty's Government to be supporting those proposals?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I am simply not here to answer for the President of the United States of America; I can only answer for Her Majesty's Government.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that Australia has now supported the demilitarisation of the Indian Ocean, and that every nation surrounding the Indian Ocean is now supporting that proposal?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, so far as I understand the position, the Australian Government are anxious to exercise with the Royal Navy.

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, will the noble Lord give us the figures for the growth of the USSR navy in the Indian Ocean in the recent decade? Has there been any suggestion on their part that they should start withdrawing ships after they have built up this very considerable strength?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, that is another, but relevant, question.

Lord BLYTON

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that so long as the Russians are making themselves felt in the Indian Ocean it would be silly for us to withdraw?

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, is the noble Lord also aware that the charge against the Soviet Union's strength was that they had a base in Somaliland? In view of the fact that the Russians have now been excluded from Somaliland, does that charge not disappear?

Lord WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, it is not within my brief, but they have other bases.