Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei (Service Strengths)

HC Deb 12 May 1967 vol 746 cc312-3W

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a table showing the approximate strength of each of the three Services in Singapore and Malaysia pre-confrontation, at the peak period of confrontation, and the proposed strength after the ending of confrontation.

Mr. Healey

Approximate strengths of the Services in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei before confrontation, and the peak levels reached during confrontation were as follows. The figures include Gurkhas and locally enlisted uniformed personnel, and ships on sea service in the Far East.

			30th September 1962	Confrontation
RN	…	…	9,000	16,000*
Army	…	…	25,000	33,300†
RAF	…	…	6,300	11,000†

NOTES:

^* At 31st March 1965.

† At 31st December 1965.

Reductions of strength are still in progress, and I am not in a position to give details of the proposed final levels.