§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions over the last five years the Royal Air Force has requested and received permission for over-flying facilities over South Africa.
§ Mr. HattersleyExcluding the frequent flights to and from the former High Commission Territories which were carried out under a standing agreement with the South African Government before the independence of these Territories, the Royal Air Force has made only infrequent use of staging and over-flying 425W facilities in South Africa over the last five years. Disproportionate effort would be required to establish the number of occasions.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government still accepts the provisions of paragraph 1 of the 1955 exchange of Letters with the Government of South Africa to ensure the safety by the joint operations of their respective maritime forces of the sea lanes round Southern Africa; and what British forces have been ear-marked for assignments to the Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic, as required in paragraphs 5 and 8.
§ Mr. HealeyHer Majesty's Government accept the need for appropriate planning arrangements to ensure the safety of the sea routes round Southern Africa. Neither Government specifically earmarks forces for assignment to the area in war, but, so far as Her Majesty's Government is concerned naval forces from our general capability would be available for deployment if in our judgment this was necessary.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and ratings of the South African navy have been involved in exchanges with the Royal Navy since 1st January, 1965; and how many are currently undergoing training or exchange service with the Royal Navy.
§ Dr. David OwenThere have been two exchanges between the Royal Navy and the South African Navy since 1st January, 1965; each of one hydrographic officer for a period of 18 months.
There have been no exchanges of ratings between the Royal Navy and the South African Navy.
No exchanges of officers or ratings exist currently and it is not our practice to divulge numbers of foreign naval personnel under training with the Royal Navy.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many South African naval engineering and electrical officers are now undergoing training in Great Britain as arranged under paragraph 15 of the 1955 exchange of letters.
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§ Dr. David OwenIt is the normal practice of Her Majestys Government not to disclose details of numbers of personnel from specific overseas countries undergoing training in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements the Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic, has made under Annex II (Naval Command structure) to the 1955 Anglo/South African exchange of Letters on Defence Matters to develop in conjunction with South Africa plans for the joint defence of the sea routes around Southern Africa; and what combined training of British and South African units, as required by paragraph 2(b), has been undertaken in recent years.
§ Mr. HealeySince the abolition of the South Atlantic Command in 1967, the Commander-in-Chief Western Fleet has been responsible for the co-ordination of plans for the defence of the sea routes around Southern Africa against external aggression. I cannot, of course, reveal details of these plans. In recent years combined anti-submarine exercises have been held annually, and in addition joint maritime training has been occasionally carried out by H.M. ships while on passage round the Cape.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what organisation exists as a nucleus for wartime expansion of joint British/South African naval operations as laid down in paragraph 2(c) of the 1955 exchange of Letters; and whether the Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic, is receiving, as required under paragraph 3(b), reports on the readiness and efficiency of South African naval units ear-marked for assignment to his command in time of war.
§ Mr. HealeyA senior Briitsh naval officer of the rank of commodore is located in South Africa with a small staff. He is responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, Western Fleet. His staff could be expanded if the need arose. At the present time no South African naval units are earmarked for assignment to the Commander-in-Chief.