§ 23. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Defence what British forces are now deployed in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.
§ 38. Mr. Buckasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the future deployment of British forces in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
§ Mr. PymThe monitoring force has now been withdrawn from the assembly points in Rhodesia. By tomorrow some 950 British personnel will have returned to the United Kingdom. There are currently some 150 headquarters, support, liaison and training personnel in Rhodesia and we are planning that some will remain until about the time of independence. The extent of future military assistance to Zimbabwe is being discussed with the new Government.
The British and other Commonwealth Service men in Rhodesia have performed a unique task with outstanding success.