§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent armed clash in Oman in which two members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces were killed.
§ Mr. MasonI presume that my hon. Friend is referring to recent newspaper reports of fighting between the Sultan of Oman's armed forces and rebels in the Dhofar province of Oman on 6th January. During an engagement a British officer serving as a volunteer on loan to the Sultan of Oman was seriously wounded; another is missing. I am pleased to say that the wounded officer is making a satisfactory recovery, but regret that there is no further news of the missing officer.