§ Q1. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister in view of the need to cut the defence commitments of this country in the Far and Middle East and in Europe in order to meet social and economic needs at home, if he will give an assurance that, on his visit to President John- 1454 son, he will not support policies which conflict with this need.
§ The First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Mr. George Brown)I have been asked to reply.
I would ask my hon. Friend to await the report which my right hon. Friend will make to this House on his return from the United States.
§ Mr. ZilliacusCould my right hon. Friend represent to the Prime Minister while he is in Washington that he should resist American demands to make us stick to all our Middle East and Far East commitments and reject the idea of associating Germany in some capacity with the management and control of an international nuclear force, which would make any agreement on disarmament impossible?
§ Mr. BrownOur defence review is continuing, as my hon. Friend knows. I am sure that he can rely upon the Prime Minister putting all the relevant factors to President Johnson.
§ Mr. RidsdaleAt a time when Russia is increasing defence expenditure by 5 per cent. and the international situation has never been more serious since 1945, is this the best time to cut our defence expenditure?
§ Mr. BrownOur experience of the past year is that spending more money on defence does not necessarily give us more defence.