§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are now the arrangements for the future protection of British interests in the Gulf.
§ Mr. GodberGood progress is being made over the establishment of the United Arab Emirates. The offers of assistance to a Union, as set out in my right hon. Friend's statement of 1st March, have been accepted in principle by the Union Rulers, and their implementation is being carried forward. In particular, the Rulers have welcomed the proposal that the Trucial Oman Scouts should be handed over to form the basis of the Union's defence force, and discussions on the details of the hand-over are going ahead.—[Vol. 812, c. 1227–29.]