§ 46. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government still takes account of the possibility of undertaking major military operations east of Suez in co-operation with the United States of America, otherwise than under United Nations auspices; and what arrangements he has made for the necessary co-ordination of resouces.
§ Mr. HealeyThe possibility of undertaking such operations with the United States and other allies cannot be entirely excluded; but it does not require specific arrangements in current circumstances for the co-ordination of resources.
§ 65. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what reorganisation of British military forces east of Suez is now proposed by his Department; and to what extent this will affect the numbers of those now operating in that area.
§ Mr. HealeyI cannot yet go far beyond what was said in "The Defence Review" last February. Our forces will be withdrawn from Aden on independence, but there will be a slight increase in the strength of our forces in the Persian Gulf. Garrisons will be withdrawn from Southern Africa when the right time comes. Our Far East forces will be reduced, as soon as conditions permit, to a size consistent with their remaining commitments. These measures will entail a very substantial reduction 101W in the number of men now serving east of Suez, but it is still too soon to quantify this reduction.