§ 6. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Defence if, in view of President Kennedy's declaration this summer of a moratorium on all United States nuclear test explosions in the atmosphere and of Mr. Khrushchev's decision to cut Soviet arms budgets whether or not the United States of America cuts hers, he will now consider making a cut in Great Britain's arms expenditure.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. Our expenditure is kept to the minimum consistent with our own defence needs and with our obligations to our allies. These commitments have not yet been reduced, either by the Nuclear Test Ban Agreement or by any changes of policy by the Soviet Government.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes the Minister admit to the fact stated in the Question and, in addition, the serious proposals being made in certain quarters of the Senate, notably on 2nd August, for an immediate reduction of 10 per cent. in America's arms expenditure without waiting for international agreement? Is not this the moment when Britain should be moving in the same direction rather than increasing her expenditure as she is?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI would agree that there has been a Test Ban agreement, for which I think all hon. Members are thankful. I would also agree that Mr. Khrushchev will not build up a surplus of arms that he does not want, and nor will I. But that does not involve a decrease in the defence budget.
§ Mr. DribergHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the impact on British defence policy and expenditure of the important statement by Mr. McNamara a few weeks ago, in which he indicated that the Western defence experts had been wrong for 10 years in their estimates of Soviet forces, which are now thought to be only half what they were thought to be? Will the right hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity to make a statement on that?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe hon. Gentleman has misread Mr. McNamara's statement. He said nothing of which we did not have full knowledge or with which we disagreed. There is nothing in that statement which would lead to a reduction of British forces in Europe. Indeed, Mr. McNamara would be astounded if any such reduction were made.
§ Mr. DribergWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that I have misread the statement, is he saying that the lengthy report in The Times and the editorial comment in The Times—for which I realise that he is not responsible—were quite wrong?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI am saying that the hon. Gentleman's gloss on the report which he gave in his supplementary question was inaccurate.
§ Mr. AllaunIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.