§ 29. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent levels of stocks of missiles forming part of the equipment of the West German armed forces have been agreed with the Armaments Control Agency of Western European Union.
§ Mr. ProfumoFully, Sir. These stocks form part of the equipment of the West German armed forces which are assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
In accordance with Article 14 of Protocol IV of the Revised Brussels Treaty, the Armaments Control Agency verifies, in consultation with the appropriate North Atlantic Treaty Organisation authorities, that the total quantities declared by the Federal Republic in its replies to the Agency's annual questionnaire are consistent with the quantities recognised as required by these units and with the conclusions and data recorded in the documents approved by the North Atlantic Council in connection with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Annual Review.
§ Mr. WarbeyDoes all that really mean that there is no limitation, no control; that the limitation in fact is effectively self-imposed; that the safeguards laid down in the Brussels Treaty are very largely illusory and that a good many people were induced to support German rearmament at the time under false pretences?
§ Mr. ProfumoNo, Sir, and I do not believe the hon. Gentleman thinks that either—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—I am sure that he cannot. Briefly, the procedure is that N.A.T.O. decides what missile units Germany should contribute; Germany declares annually how many missiles she has to the Armaments Control Agency; and the Agency then checks with N.A.T.O. that these are the numbers required for the number of units which Germany contributes.