Trucial Oman Scouts: financial aspect

This file relates to the Trucial Oman Scouts (TOS) as Britain prepares to withdraw from the Gulf and as Bahrain, Qatar and the seven Trucial States seek to establish the Union of Arab Emirates. In particular, it relates to a proposed increase in TOS rates of pay, to match with the Abu Dhabi Defence Force. It includes correspondence concerning:

• Question of the Rulers covering the cost of the TOS pay increases, with particular attention to the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan; and Qatar's reluctance to contribute towards TOS pay increases unless it becomes part of the Union's federal force
• Report on the TOS for the period from February 1967 to October 1968 by its commander, focusing on its strength, the development of camps, equipment and training
• Review of the financial conditions of service for the TOS by a Ministry of Defence team
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) share of anticipated expenditure on the TOS and security forces in the Gulf for 1968-71, including financial provision for the radio station Sawt Al Sahil
• Problem of storage facilities for the TOS after Britain's withdrawal
• Issue of payment and taxes for contract officers such as Major W F Stockdale, D D Henchman and W B Peskett
• Consideration of the future budgetary and accounting arrangements for the TOS
• Question of the Treasury funding additional logistical support for the TOS when the force is at risk of disbanding in the near future
• Plans for a Ministry of Defence team to examine proposals for a TOS redundancy scheme