§ 10. Mr. Warbeyasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the fact that the total strength of the West German land and air forces already exceed the limits laid down under Article I of Protocol II of the Revised Brussels Treaty, he will now give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will exercise the veto power 918 provided under Article 3 of that Protocol to prevent further increases in the limits laid down for the German Federal Republic.
§ Mr. HeathThe strength of the West German land and air forces does not exceed the limits laid down under Article I of Protocol II of the Revised Brussels Treaty.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the Lord Privy Seal still trying to pretend to this House that the West German armed forces do not already exceed the limits established under the Paris Agreements? The right hon. Gentleman will recognise the words of those agreements. Is he denying that the West German armed forces already exceed those limits and that it is planned to exceed them still further during the coming year? Is the right hon. Gentleman's excuse for conniving at the remilitarisation of Germany that Her Majesty's Government are doing it clandestinely?
§ Mr. HeathMy Answer was absolutely clear and the hon. Member has no grounds for disputing it. The limits have not been exceeded and there is no proposal that they should be.