§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the loss to the Central Treaty Organisation of Iran and the continuing political and economic problems of Turkey, he intends to strengthen British air and naval forces in the Eastern Mediterranean.
§ Mr. MulleyI have no such plans at present. We do, however, retain the capability to deploy specialist reinforcement forces as necessary and Royal Navy 527W vessels participate in the naval on-call force Mediterranean.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will discuss with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation colleagues the need to strengthen Western defences in the Eastern Mediterranean; and what proposals he has made to them about joint allied actions to increase the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air forces in that area and in particular about the use by other allied forces of the Royal Air Force facilities at Akrotiri.
§ Mr. MulleyThe strength of the Alliance, including the air forces of its southern region, is a matter which my NATO colleagues and I keep under review in our regular meetings. I have not made any specific proposals about facilities at Akrotiri.