§ 5. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to arrange discussions with the finance Ministers of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries with a view to co-ordinating military expenditure within the alliance.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI propose to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting next month myself, and I look forward, as is usual on these occasions, to discussing with my colleagues from other countries current financial problems affecting the alliance.
§ Mr. StonehouseWhen the Chancellor attends that meeting, will he raise the question of the undesirability of the United States going cap in hand to Bonn and being rebuffed on the question of financial contributions? Will he also raise the question of the British contribution to the B.A.O.R. and the reduction in the German contribution, which will mean an extra cost of £12 million to this country?
§ Mr. LloydI could not accept what the hon. Member is suggesting, nor do I think that it is a matter for me. What does concern me is the imbalance in international payments at the present time. Some of the matters to which the hon. Member referred are contained in that wider picture and I am quite certain that they will be discussed.