§ 12. Mr. Warbeyasked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government have now agreed to the planned increase in the size of West German armed forces beyond the limits laid down by the revised Brussels Treaty; and what, in numbers or by percentage, is the extent of the planned increase.
§ Mr. HeathThere have been no such proposals either in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or in the Western European Union.
§ Mr. WarbeyThe right hon. Gentleman knows very well that there are such proposals in Bonn and in Washington, and that in fact the planned increase of the Bundeswehr is now officially to 500,000 men, which is double the limit laid down in the Brussels Treaty, or at least in the footnote to it which explained What the Treaty was supposed to contain, and that the Americans are pressing for a further increase beyond that limit. What is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the increase of the Bundeswehr to 500,000 men?
§ Mr. HeathI know of no support for the allegations the hon. Member is making. The position is that if there is to be any change in this it requires the unanimous agreement of Western European Union.