§ 53. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the talks with the Australian Government about an alternative base to Singapore in Australia.
§ Mr. HealeyAs a result of my discussions in Canberra last February, the Government of Australia agreed that we should look into the practical possibilities of the United Kingdom having military facilities in that country, in case this should become necessary following a withdrawal from our bases in Singapore and Malaysia. Studies are continuing, and were given new impetus by the recent visit to London of Mr. Hasluck, the Australian Minister of External Affairs. There is no final commitment on either side—nor will there be until all parties are satisfied as to costs and other practical considerations, and until there is general agreement on the need for deploying British forces to Australia in the light of the development of events in South-East Asia.