HC Deb 08 March 1965 vol 708 cc9-10W
60. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make more helicopters available for United Kingdom forces in Malaysia.

Mr. Millan

Yes. A Royal Air Force squadron of Whirlwinds arrived there at the end of last month and H.M.S. "Albion" with a squadron of Royal Naval Wessex helicopters will be deployed east of Suez in the near future. The first Army Sioux helicopters for the support of combat units have now arrived, and the build-up will continue during this year.

We have also helped to meet the needs of the Army in Malaysia by increasing the monthly flying hours of each R.A.F. Whirlwind there by 50 per cent.