WEEK IN PARLIAMENT by Chris Arthur
Monday, November 30th saw questions on Aden, the Simonstowm base, and Congo: Mr. Fisher (Surbiton) asked what was the policy of the Government towards the retention of the British military base at Aden. Mr. Healey - The Government's policy is to retain the base in agreement with the Government of the Federation of South Arabia for so long as it is required to serve the interests which we have in common. Mr, Fisher welcomed this decision. Mr. Wall (Haltemprice) asked why the joint British-Spanish naval exercises pis=ned for next month had been cancelled. Mr. Healey ~ said that the timing of the exercise was such that the new Government was left with insufficient time to consider fully all the implications, Mr, Hamilton (Labour, “est Fife) asked whether the Secretary of State does not think it reprehensible to be dependent on the good will of a reactionary Nazi-type regime? (refering to the Simonstowm base). Mr. Healey. This base is of considerable value to the Royal Navy. We have no intention of seeking to abandon it,
Mr. Sydney Silverman (Nelson and Colne, Labour) asked if the Minister's attention had been drawn to reports of indiscriminate slaughter committed by the rescue party that landed in Stanleyville? ‘ould he bear in mind that while many of us support intervention designed to save people from massacre, we are not in favour of interfering in the internal affairs of the Congo. Mre Padley replied that the paratroopers had been withdram. It was necessary for Britain and her allies to effect this rescue operation (Tory cheers). Mr. Driberg (Barking ,Lebour) suggested that one of the lessons of the tragic business was that a number of nations should allocate standing forceg r immediate use by UNO when another emegency of this kind arose. Mr. Padley that while the Government were of the opinion that the peace-keeping forces of UNO should be strengthened (and one day we may be able to rely on UNO) this operation was vital (more Tory cheers). In reply to a question from Miss Vickers (Plymouth, Devonport, Tory), Mr. Healey replied that the cost to the Government of operations in defence of Malaysia, to date, had been about £5,500,000. Service casualties have totalled 49 killed and 82 wounded,
On Tuesday, December lst, Cyprus, Polaris, Oil Licences and Malaysia, came upe Answering a question about Cyprus, Mr. Bottomley said, as regards our sovereign bases, it was pointed out that they have never formed part of the Republic of Cyprus and are not involved in the present dispute; and that we could not conceive (sic) of a solution which would not provide for British base facilities. Mr. Emrys Hughes (Ayrshire, South, Labour) said the Cyprus bases had cost £200 million - £20 million a year. Are we to take it that this Government intené to carry on this policy? Mr. Bottomley said that at this moment it is the intention of the Government to have a base in Cyprus (Tory cheers). Mre Marten (Banbury, Tory) asked whether it was intended that U.S. base should renain in Holy Loch. Mr. Wilson - Yes. Mr. Marten then asked if it was agreed that keeping the U.S. base was an effective way of keeping the alliance strong, Mr. Wilson said that he repeated that the base would be kept in its present form unless and until as a result of possible changes in nuclear policy, there was a requirement for it as a NATO base.
In reply to a question by Mr. Sandys (Streatham, Tory) about Malaysia, Mr. Bottomley said that the British Government continued to support the Malaysian Government to the full but it had had no requests for the deployment of additional British forces. Mr. Sandys said this tatement would be widely welcomed. He added that this statement together ones about Cyprus, BAOR, Aden and Aden showed that there was not much change in the Government's defence policy. Mr. Lee, Minister of Power, said that since the licences for firms to prospect for oil and gas in the North Sea had already been issued it would not be in the public interest to disturb them.