§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the plans of Her Majesty's Government for extended co-operation with the Dutch Navy, with particular reference to operations in the Indian Ocean.
§ Mr. BuckI welcome opportunities to maintain and extend existing close and friendly co-operation between the Royal Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy whenever suitable opportunities occur.
As announced in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1972, the Royal Navy expects to make occasional deployments of larger ships, such as a cruiser, east of the Cape. Plans for such a deployment in 1973 are being prepared and it is hoped that units of the Royal Netherlands Navy will be able to participate.