§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the Brunei Government requested that the Gurkha infantry battalion based there be withdrawn;
(2) to what extent the Government of Brunei contribute to the cost of the 67W Gurkha infantry battalion stationed there; and whether that Government indicated any change in their intentions before 3rd December.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe Government of Brunei meet the full cost of the Gurkha battalion stationed there and have not indicated any change in their intentions in this respect; neither have they requested that the battalion be withdrawn. We are consulting them about our proposal to withdraw the battalion.
§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the political reasons for his decision to withdraw the Gurkha battalion from Brunei in spite of the fact that it is of no cost to the British Government.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownNo. Pending consultations with the Brunei Government it would be inappropriate to make such a statement.