HC Deb 12 February 1958 vol 582 cc370-2
11. Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Minister of Defence what has been the outcome of Her Majesty's Government's request to the North Atlantic Council to review the financial conditions on which United Kingdom forces are maintained on the mainland of Europe.

14. Mr. John Hall

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent, following the Federal German Government's decision not to pay support costs, the British military contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will be further reduced.

21. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Defence if, in view of the need to reduce defence expenditure, he will withdraw British forces from Germany to the extent that the Federal Government refuses to pay support costs.

Mr. Sandys

The financial conditions on which British forces are stationed in Europe are still under discussion by the North Atlantic Council.

Mr. Fernyhough

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the position has now become really humiliating? He himself failed in negotiations. N.A.T.O. has failed. M. Spaak has failed. Does he not think that the time has come when we should make perfectly clear to the Germans that, if they are not prepared to meet the £50 million involved here, we shall bring the troops home; and will he make clear to the Germans that we are not prepared to accept, in lieu of a contribution, the suggestion that they deposit £100 million here for the purchase of arms? Will he remind them that, because they failed to purchase the S.R.177 there is a blight over the Isle of Wight now, and, further, will he make clear to the rest of the Ministers that the British public will not support a Government who are prepared to—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member's Question asks what is the outcome of Her Majesty's Government's request. There appears to be no outcome yet; it has not been revealed what the end of the discussions is. The hon. Member is really giving his own views about what the outcome should be.

Mr. Fernyhough

Can the Minister tell the House what will be included in the forthcoming White Paper on defence as the German contribution?

Mr. Sandys

I have made it clear that these discussions are still going on in the North Atlantic Council—

Dame Irene Ward

Hot them up.

Mr. Sandys

I do not think that it would hot them up if I were to discuss the matter in the House at this stage.

Mr. John Hall

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that, while there may be a case for a complete revision of the defence system of Western Europe as it now exists, we are being asked to shoulder an unfair proportion of the cost at a time when our total defence expenditure is imposing a very severe strain upon our economy, which, will he not agree, tends to lessen our effective resistance in the cold war in which we are engaged?

Mr. Sandys

I think that everyone in the House is aware of the serious burden upon our balance of payments which would be involved if we had to make a large transfer across the exchange, and that, of course, is the issue at present under discussion.

Mr. Swingler

Does the Minister recall that the agreement to sanction West German rearmament was commended to the House on the basis that it would relieve some of the defence burden upon this country, and will he, at any rate, give an assurance that he will not enter into an agreement or will take the steps necessary to ensure that it does not mean an additional financial burden upon Britain?

Mr. Sandys

I think that the hon. Gentleman can be reassured on that point.

Mr. Bellenger

In relation to one of his answers to a supplementary question about negotiations still going on, may I ask the Minister whether he is still optimistic that some satisfactory compromise will emerge, or is he of the opinion, as has been suggested by Press statements, that the German Government have made their final answer and are not prepared to consider a compromise?

Mr. Sandys

I do not think that it would be really wise or helpful if I were to express optimism or pessimism about the outcome of rather delicate negotiations.