§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Sultan of Brunei, and what arrangements he has made for British troops to train in Brunei after 1971.
§ Mr. LuardTalks with the Sultan of Brunei were held in November and December, 1969, and the text of the agreed communiqué issued on 22nd December is as follows:
"His Highness the Sultan of Brunei has been visiting London since the 15th of November. During his visit he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Minister of State, Lord Shepherd.
The discussions continued the review of the existing relationship between Britain and Brunei begun in previous talks with the then Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs in September and October 1968. His Highness and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers examined the various aspects of the present arrangements between the two countries and the way in which these should reflect the changes in British policy including the withdrawal of British forces from South-East Asia by the end of 1971, announced in January 1968.
Further meetings in this series of talks are to be held at a date next year to be agreed between the British and Brunei Governments."
As regards the last part of the Question, British troops will, as already announced, continue to train in the Malaysia/Singapore area after 1971; but decisions about where the training will take place, other than at the Commonwealth Jungle Warfare Centre, will depend on considerations at the time.