HC Deb 22 February 1971 vol 812 cc14-5W
54. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is proposed through the Five-Power Pact or the Colombo Plan to help stabilise South-East Asia.

Mr. Anthony Royle

Good progress has been made towards the establishment of five-power defence arrangements in Malaysia and Singapore. We expect these arrangements to come into force later this year.

The Colombo Plan provides the forum for bilateral negotiations on questions of technical assistance and as such does not directly assist political stabilisation.