§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that the military situation in Malaysia is sufficiently under control to warrant the reduction of the Royal Navy's Far East Fleet from two to one fixed-wing aircraft carrier; and what action he is taking in view of the imminent return of H.M.S. "Centaur" to Great Britain, and the impossibility of H.M.S. "Eagle" being in the area until after H.M.S. "Centaur" has arrived in home waters.
§ Mr. MayhewThe deployment of carriers East of Suez is flexible and designed to meet the needs of both the Middle East and Far East Stations. I cannot, of course, reveal the detailed programmes for "Centaur" and "Eagle", but we expect to maintain the vital flexibility of deployment during their change over.