§ 20. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals he has received from the West German Government regarding the building of German submarines exceeding the present limit imposed by Western European Union.
§ 48. Mr. Warbeyasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in consequence of the decision of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council that the German Federal Republic should construct submarines of a tonnage exceeding that at present permitted by the amended protocols to the Brussels Treaty, Her Majesty's Government have given an undertaking to support the necessary amendment of the Brussels Treaty protocols.
§ Mr. HeathThe restrictions on conventional armaments in the Revised Brussels Treaty, which govern the defence effort of the Federal German Republic, are open to review at any time in the light of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's developing requirements. On the basis of these requirements, a proposal to amend the Treaty to permit the construction of submarines of a tonnage above the present prescribed limit of 450 tons has been considered by the Council of Western European Union. Her Majesty's Government support the proposal, but no action has so far been taken to amend the Treaty in this way.
§ Mr. AllaunHas not the head of the German Navy recently stated that that Navy plans to increase the size of its submarines to 700 tons, which is twice the original limit—which has since been lifted to 450 tons? Will the British Government oppose this idea both through N.A.T.O. and the W.E.U., since it is a proposal to increase Germany's armed might still further?
§ Mr. AllaunWhy?
§ Mr. Heath—which is made necessary by the development of naval techniques in the years since the Treaty was signed. It is on the recommendation of SACEUR and, as the hon. Gentleman knows, all the German forces are under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
§ Mr. WarbeyCan the Lord Privy Seal say when the N.A.T.O. Council agreed on this increase in the tonnage of German submarines; secondly, why that N.A.T.O. agreement was kept secret and, thirdly, whether the British Government voted for the agreement in the N.A.T.O. Council? If they did so vote, are not their hands tied, and is not the W.E.U. merely a rubber stamp for N.A.T.O?
§ Mr. HeathNo, Sir. The hon. Gentleman is wrong again. The recommendation was by SACEUR, and it is his responsibility to give his view to the Western European Union about the defensive requirements of N.A.T.O. He informed the W.E.U. last year of his view.