§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is proposed to disband the two RAF reconnaissance and anti-submarine squadrons currently in Malta having regard to his statement on 3rd December that a defence presence there would cease in 1979.
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§ Mr. JohnIt is intended that the Canberra reconnaissance squadron and the Nimrod maritime patrol squadron currently based in Malta should remain there during the currency of the military facilities agreement. In the longer term we envisage that most of these aircraft will suppport existing reconnaissance and martime forces in the United Kingdom.