HC Deb 26 June 1957 vol 572 cc181-2
5. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Defence whether the United Kingdom representative at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation agreed to the request of the Belgian Government that the compulsory period of military service in Belgium should be reduced from 18 to 15 months.

Mr. Sandys

This is a matter for the Belgian Government to decide for themselves in the light of their obligations to N.A.T.O., and subject to consultation with the North Atlantic Council.

Mr. Shinwell

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the Question? Did our representative at N.A.T.O. agree to this proposal? Is not it customary, if any of the Governments included in N.A.T.O. wish to make any change of this kind, for N.A.T.O. to be consulted? What did our representative say about this, in view of the fact that every Supreme Commander in N.A.T.O. is demanding two years' National Service and the only country that has responded is the United Kingdom? Why was Belgium allowed to reduce the period of National Service?

Mr. Sandys

We have not got to agree. There has to be consultation, and there was consultation. Consultation means that one informs the Council of one's intention. There is then discussion, and the Government concerned in a matter of this kind is free to decide what action it wishes to take. I entirely agree that two years is a good and reasonable length of National Service and that the more the period of National Service is reduced, in this case from 18 to 15 months, the less practical results one gets from the Service men concerned.

Mr. Shinwell

Are we to understand that any of the countries included in N.A.T.O. can inform their colleagues in N.A.T.O. of their intention to reduce their period of National Service, or, for that matter, to abolish it entirely?

Mr. Sandys

That is what we are doing ourselves.

Mr. Shinwell

What, abolishing it?