HC Deb 21 July 1965 vol 716 cc1548-50
3. Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the current rate of imports by the German Federal Republic from Great Britain, he will withdraw 500 troops from the British Army of the Rhine each week until 31st December, 1965.

6. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans have been made to reduce the size and cost of the British Army of the Rhine.

25. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposals to reduce the cost to the British taxpayer of the British Army of the Rhine.

55. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make proposals for reducing the cost to the British taxpayer of the British Army of the Rhine.

The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Denis Healey)

The British Army of the Rhine is under review, together with all our other overseas commitments, and I cannot say at this stage what effect the defence review may have on its size or cost. On the extent to which the cost is offset by purchases of British equipment, I would refer to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 1st July.

Mr. Rose

While congratulating my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, may I ask the Secretary of State for Defence to make it clear to the West German authorities that failure to honour this agreement will lead to the progressive withdrawal of British troops from Germany? Is it not high time, since the danger of land war in Europe has receded, that we should review the whole question of keeping British troops in West Germany?

Mr. Healey

I think that one of the reasons that the danger of war in Europe has receded is that N.A.T.O. forces have been adequate to deter it, although I recognise the need for change in the strategy according to which N.A.T.O. forces are deployed. We have made no secret, in our discussions with the West German Government, of the serious consequences which might follow if we are not able to do better in future than in the past to meet the foreign exchange costs of British troops in Germany.

Mr. Hamilton

Can my right hon. Friend assure us that, in view of the fact that we are bearing an unfair share of the N.A.T.O. burden in Western Europe, we shall seek to reduce the number and cost of our troops in West Germany?

Mr. Healey

I have already made it clear to my Ministerial colleagues on the N.A.T.O. Council that we would seek to achieve a fairer sharing of the burden of Western defence. It is an ironic commentary on events of the last 20 years that West Germany gains about 1,000 million dollars of foreign exchange by participation in the defence of the free world while the United Kingdom is losing about the same amount.

Mrs. Renée Short

While not wishing to go as far as some of my hon. Friends in calling for the reduction of forces in West Germany—because it is essential to maintain a British presence there in order to keep an eye on the activities of the present German Government—may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he would not agree that if we are to carry out the social programmes to which the Government are committed, particularly in housing, education and the National Health Service, it is essential to find some savings in the defence programme? Is this not a fruitful field where savings can be found? Will he give us an undertaking that very severe cuts will be made?

Mr. Healey

No, Sir. It is our purpose in the defence review to achieve savings in expenditure, but I must point out to my hon. Friend that the purpose of having troops in Germany is to co-operate with German and other allied forces in deterring aggression and not to keep an eye on the activities of the West German Government.

Mr. Goodhart

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that the manifesto on which the Government fought the election contemplated an increase in the size of Rhine Army? Can he now say whether in his opinion the defence costs agreement that has just been negotiated is satisfactory enough to remove the whole question of foreign exchange pressure on our forces for the next two years?

Mr. Healey

On the first point, I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman's facts are as mistaken as his judgments on these matters. As to the second point: no, we do not regard the current agreement as wholly satisfactory, and, of course, we shall continue negotiations to try to improve it.