§ 54. Mr. Luardasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected cost in sterling and foreign exchange, establishment, and military rôle of the proposed island bases in the Indian Ocean.
§ 74. Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the costs of the new chain of island air bases in the Indian Ocean necessary to make them operational for the F111As.
§ Mr. HealeyWe have not yet decided that it will be necessary to create any defence facilities additional to those already available to us in the Indian Ocean—much less that any island bases should be built.
§ Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the establishing of staging posts in the Indian Ocean for the F111As; and if these posts will be additional to the bases already on the mainland of Asia.
§ Mr. HealeyI would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today to him and to the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Luard).