asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will stop the rundown of our defence establishments in Malta.

The deployment of our forces overseas and the support facilities provided for them are, of course, kept under review but I have no changes to announce at present as regards defence establishments in Malta.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the situation in the Mediterranean has changed, that the Russians now dominate the North African coast, that what we used to think of as N.A.T.O.'s southern flank has become N.A.T.O.'s second front, and that Malta is one of its forward bastions?

This is one of the factors we shall take into account in our planning. I have nothing to add at present to the statement I have made.