§ Mr. Buckasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of naval deployments in the Indian Ocean and the Far East during the remainder of the current year.
§ Mr. SpeedA Royal Navy Task Group under Rear Admiral D. C. Jenkin and consisting of two destroyers and three frigates with afloat support will deploy from May until December. On present plans it is intended to make a number of port calls in East Africa, the Far East, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf. Details are still under consideration; but, as announced in Peking yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, the deployment will include the first visit by the Royal Navy to China since the foundation of the People's Republic.